ISLAMABAD, March 9: India will formally raise the issue of bilateral trade with Pakistan under the South Asian Free Trade Area (Safta) agreement during the forthcoming commerce secretary level talks this month.

Informed sources told Dawn on Thursday that Indian commerce secretary with his Pakistani counterpart would discuss the issue among others in the three-day meeting to be started from March 27 in Islamabad as part of composite dialogue between the two countries.

The Indian government, according to the sources, had raised objections on Pakistan’s stance that trade with India under Safta would be continued through the positive list approach — 773 category of items.

Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan following the ratification of Safta agreement by cabinet on February 15, 2006 announced that bilateral trade with India would continue through the positive list approach even after the implementation of Safta.

According to a diplomatic source, the New Delhi had also sent a letter to foreign office to seek Pakistan’s clear stance on the issue of bilateral trade with India under Safta.

“We have not received any letter from New Delhi in this regard. We have not even approached at the appropriate level,” a senior official in the commerce ministry on condition of anonymity told this Dawn.

The sources said two days prior to the meeting with Indian commerce secretary a technical committee meeting of the commerce ministry would be held to finalize the report of various committees regarding trade measures.

“We have identified a list of non-tariff barriers (NTBs), which restrict entry of Pakistani goods into India. We would exchange and discuss these with the Indian commerce secretary,” the sources said.

Indian has a long list of NTBs ranging from certifications, registration and inter-state duties, which discouraged imports. Above all the biased attitude of the Indian buyers towards Pakistani goods is another area of concern for Pakistani producer, added the sources.

The scaling down of customs tariff on agreed items for LDCs and non-LDCs would come into effect from July 1, 2006. The rules of origin would also be effective from the same date.