November 04, 2006	Saturday	Shawwal 11, 1427

ISLAMABAD, Nov 3: Pakistan on Friday notified 302 more items for trading with India, which will enhance the total number of items in positive list to 1,075 items.

The total value of these items mostly raw materials, industrial machinery and its parts currently importable from the rest of the world, excluding India stood at $1.332 billion. This means that with full utilisation of the importable products, the bilateral trade between the two countries would increase to a great extent.

According to the commerce ministry notification SRO 1100 of 2006 issued here on Friday out of 302 new items, import of 111 raw materials, 171 machinery items and parts and 19 other items were allowed from India following demands from various stakeholders, particularly from some industries.

The other items include surgical related equipments, homeopathic medicines and diesel locomotives.

An official in the commerce ministry said that only 20 items out of total 302 were placed under Pakistan’s sensitive list of the Safta agreement. This means that 282 items will be eligible for duty reduction under Safta.

However, he said that some animals, whose fur skins are not traded internationally, will not be importable from India as well. Import of some of the animals was allowed from India under certain conditions.