ISLAMABAD, July 12: The government is considering a range of products to be included in the tradeable list with India and formal announcement to this effect would be made in the next trade policy, it is learnt.

Indian government had handed over a list of 286 products to Pakistan for inclusion in the positive list, which in case considered by Islamabad, would raise the total tradable list of products to 1,059 items. Currently, Pakistan's tradeable list with India includes only 773 items.

The sources said the ministry of commerce has already held the first round of meeting on the expansion of the tradeable list recently, which would be finalised before the announcement of the trade policy on July 17.

According to the sources, the ministry is likely to give clearance to around 240 items out of the total proposed list for inclusion in the positive list. However, formal decision to this effect would be taken by the prime minister.

"We have already examined most part of the proposed list in consultation with the stakeholders. The items under consideration were mostly those also demanded by Pakistani trading community for trade with India," a senior official on condition of anonymity told Dawn.When asked whether Pakistan was considering the expansion of the tradeable list following the Indian commerce minister statement to challenge Pakistan's decision of not granting MFN to India under Safta, the sources said expansion of the list had no link with that statement.

Recently, the World Bank and State Bank of Pakistan in their separate reports suggested expansion of trade with India. These reports also asserted pressure on the government to further liberalise trading regime with India.

A diplomatic source said, "India is satisfied with the constant expansion in the tradeable items list. Whatever they want they get from Islamabad."

Indian side never stressed for the MFN as they were aware of the fact that the expansion in the positive list would serve their interest. "MFN status has become just a political issue which will lose its importance with the passage of time as Pakistan would keep on expanding the positive list to meet their demand," he said.

Why India did not challenge the issue at WTO because of the fact that they knew that they would lose the case. They are aware of the fact that expansion of the list serves the interest of their stakeholders, the diplomat added.