ISLAMABAD, March 26: Pakistan imported Rs102 million worth of goods from India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh during the July-Feb period of the 2006-07 under South Asia Free Trade Area (Safta) agreement.

An official analysis issued here by commerce ministry stated that the statistics maintained by the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) showed that over 92 per cent of these imports were from India.

This fact contradicts the Indian claim that Pakistan has not provided market access to New Delhi under Safta agreement, added the announcement.

India had raised concern in the Safta Ministerial Council meeting held recently that the import policy regulation of Pakistan had restricted market access for the Indian goods following the implementation of the Safta agreement from July 1, 2006.

However, Pakistan had rebutted the Indian claim saying import policy regulations were provided in the import regimes of all member countries under the Safta agreement.

The fact that such conditions were not mentioned by other Saarc countries in their respective notifications did not imply that they had waived such conditions for trade within the region. Pakistan had fully complied with its obligations under the Safta, added the announcement.

Opinion

Editorial

GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...
Centre vs provinces
Updated 10 Jun, 2026

Centre vs provinces

The reason the centre finds itself in this position is rooted in its failure to expand the tax net and boost revenues.
Party in crisis
10 Jun, 2026

Party in crisis

THE young KP chief minister must be starting to realise just how thorny a seat he occupies. There has been a flurry...
Varsity woes
10 Jun, 2026

Varsity woes

FINANCIAL crises affecting public sector universities across Pakistan are now having an impact on academic...