05 November 2004	Friday	21 Ramazan 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 4: Pakistan will discuss with Indian authorities a list of proposals seeking concessions in around 30 areas to enhance commercial and economic relations between the two countries.

Officials told Dawn on Thursday that these proposals would be discussed at length during the forthcoming meeting of commerce secretaries of the two countries scheduled for November 9-10 in New Delhi.

The trade talks were part of the second round of composite dialogue process under which issues of Kashmir, Wullar Barrage, Siachen, the maritime dispute of Sir Creek, terrorism and drug trafficking were to be discussed.

At the conclusion of the first meeting held in Islamabad recently, Indian Commerce Secretary Deepak Chaterji had submitted a list of proposals to the Pakistani government for consideration.

When contacted, Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan told Dawn that Pakistan was well prepared to discuss with India all these proposals during the forthcoming meeting. He said that due to non-tariff barriers and high duty structure as well as export subsidies and domestic support in India, it was not possible for Pakistani products to enter the Indian market.

Mr Khan said that during the meeting the Indian authorities would be asked to scale down their tariffs on products of interest to Pakistan and remove para-tariff and non-tariff barriers. "There must be a level-playing field available to Pakistani businessmen so that an increase in trade could be of benefit to both the countries," he added.

Pakistan's exports to India did not register any tangible growth due to these hurdles, despite the granting of MFN status by India to Pakistan. He stressed the need for access to information about India's trade regime to facilitate Pakistani trade with India.

However, Mr Khan says Pakistan will be quite prepared to look at the bilateral arrangements, which equally benefit the interest of both the countries. He said tariffs on the textile and clothing sector in India were very high. "We have to look at these, asking them to lower tariffs on other products of Pakistani interest," he added.

The Indian government has demanded an MFN status from Pakistan and grant of transit facilities to each other's goods on reciprocal basis. And the two sides could consider opening of Attari-Wagah land route for trade. Other demands included: investment in joint ventures in identified sectors; laying down/extension of optical fibre cable from Attari to Lahore; facilitation of a counterpart arrangement between mobile operators on the two sides; participation of Indian companies in telecom projects in Pakistan and cooperation in the field of information technology, especially IT-enabled services, e-commerce, e-governance, IT education, manpower training; holding of joint seminars/workshops, IT and electronic hardware, etc.

India also sought multiple airlines for operations of the scheduled services on a reciprocal basis, proposed amendment to the 1974 Protocol on Resumption of Shipping Services between India and Pakistan, supply of petroleum products including diesel from India to Pakistan and possibility of extending diesel pipeline to Pakistan, harmonization of customs procedures and valuation and standardization and quality control, cooperation in the capital market, introduction of 'SALMAIL' between India and Pakistan, bringing out a joint commemorative stamp, exchange of philatelic exhibitions and exploration of possibilities of opening branches of the nationalized banks in each other's country on a reciprocal basis.

It was also proposed to collaborate in post-harvest technologies, including exchange of information and experts on development of processing units/scientific research, production, marketing and exports; exchange of information and experience in the field of planning, construction, operation and maintenance of projects in the water resource sector.