October 31, 2007	Wednesday	Shawwal 18, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Oct 30: Islamabad has sent a list of 20 core products having exportable potential to New Delhi for seeking removal of non-tariff barriers on its exports in an effort to narrow down trade mismatch with India, Dawn has learnt.

Apparently, the decision is the outcome of the commerce secretary level talks held between the two countries in August last in New Delhi to identify 20 products of Pakistan’s interest and for facilitating their export to India.

An official source told Dawn on Tuesday that the Indian government would now inform Pakistan about the detailed import regime on these products with a view to facilitating their import to India.

When contacted, the secretary of commerce, Syed Asif Shah, confirmed that the list had been sent to New Delhi through the Pakistani High Commission to India.

Mr Shah said the list carries essential commodities confronting non-tariff barriers either at Indian ports or at entry points of states, which restricts flow of exports from Pakistan to India.

Bilateral trade between Pakistan and India reached $1.6 billion in 2006-07 from $835 million in 2004-05, which was almost doubled.

“For the first time, imports from India to Pakistan have crossed the figure of $1 billion and currently stand at $1.25 billion,” an official source in the commerce ministry said.

Pakistan’s exports to India on the other hand have grown slowly from $280 million in 2004-05 to only $370 million in 2006-07 despite the fact that India has granted MFN status to Pakistan.

To a question, the official replied that the core products, include textile products, surgical, sports, leather, cutlery products for its export to India. However, the official clarified that the list did not speak about tariff lines but only mentioned products, as tariff lines can go into hundreds.

On the other hand, the official said the Indian government has also submitted a list of more than 400 products for inclusion in the positive list for trading with Pakistan.

With this addition, the total list of products would reach more than 1,475 on positive list for trading between the two countries.

It is expected that this enhanced market access provided to India via enlarged list would probably take India’s exports to Pakistan beyond the $2 billion figure during 2007-08, added the official.

According to the official, the two sides would also prepare a compendium of procedures for their trade facilitation.

The non-tariff barriers associated with identified commodities or any other product would also be exchanged and the same would be resolved in the next working group meeting scheduled for November, said the official.

Analysts said this exchange can increase export to India, if only there is closer economic cooperation, and that could lead to better peace.

Whenever one speaks about the peace-promoting economic relations between India and Pakistan, critics opine that relations between the two are marred by the border dispute and across border infiltration.

They said it is expected that the enhancement of trade might help to some extent establish peaceful relations between the two fast growing economies of South Asia.