ISLAMABAD, April 9: The federal government has constituted an inter-ministerial task force to work out modalities and measures for increasing trade with Saarc countries.
An official source told Dawn on Wednesday that the decision was taken in an inter-ministerial meeting held here, which was attended by senior officials from ministries of industry, commerce, food, agriculture and livestock (MINFAL), National Tariff Commission (NTC), Foreign Office and Central Board of Revenue (CBR).
The task force was asked to conduct a detailed analysis of the country’s trade with special reference to Saarc member states and submit its recommendations for increasing volume of trade with these countries. The committee would also submit a report on the progress so far made under South Asia Preferential Trade Arrangement (SAPTA).
According to the official, Pakistan has granted tariff concessions to four-Saarc member countries on more than 400 items under SAPTA during the forth round of negotiations held in November 2002.
The concessions were given to four least developing countries (LDCs) — Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives. The Indian government, however, were pre-determined not to give more concessions to Islamabad in the fourth round.
The meeting also discussed Pakistan’s present position vis-a-vis regional trade with special reference to SAARC with detailed discussion on the implication on progress from SAPTA to South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA).
The task force would also carry out a study for realization of SAFTA latest by 2005. It would discuss arrangements of shifting to SAFTA from SAPTA through all three approaches — product by product, sectoral basis and across the board basis.
It would also discuss banking, port and transportation facilities, setting up of reviewing and monitoring mechanism and consumer equitable benefits to all the member countries.
The official said that preferences would also cover products, which are being actually traded amongst member states. The steps towards liberalization must take into account the special needs of the smaller and LDCs and the benefits must secure equally.
