ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: Pakistan on Tuesday removed 14 items from the negative list under Afghan Transit Trade Agreement. The ECC also allowed continuation of livestock export despite a crisis of rising meat prices in the local market due to bird flu attack.

A formal decision on deletion of 14 items from ATT-negative list were taken by the economic coordination committee (ECC) of the cabinet presided over by Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz. With the deletion of these 14 items, the ATTA-negativ list now consists of only six items, mostly cigarettes and explosive material.

The items which have been deleted from the list are: razor and shaving blades, capacitors, video cassettes, vegetable ghee, cigar and cheroots, art silk fabrics, shampoo, refrigerator, air conditioners, PVC and PMC material, dyes and chemicals, yarns, soaps and black tea.

The ECC also approved a 25 per cent freight subsidy on the export of 250,000 tons of potato to facilitate export of surplus potato crop for the year 2004. An official announcement said that the decision would stabilize potato price in the market, provide incentives to the farmers and create a healthy competition for producing export quality potatoes within the country.

The ECC also increased the limit on establishment of branches by foreign banks operating in Pakistan from 25 to 50 to promote banking competition.