LAHORE, July 20: Commerce Secretary, Munir Qureshi has called upon the domestic manufacturing industry to become more efficient and competitive to face the challenge posed by liberalisation of trade with India and get greater access in its large market.

Speaking to the members of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday, he said Pakistan would have access to a larger Indian market in case they were able to cut their costs and maintain high standards of quality.

He said the negative list of trade with India would either be completely eliminated by the end of December 2012 or drastically reduced.

The secretary said the business interests of Pakistani exporters will be safeguarded and admitted that non-tariff barrier was an important issue in trade with India because it leads to delays in clearance of goods and increases the cost of the exports. He asked the businessmen to describe his ministry about all their reservations before or in the roundtable conference which is set to be held in Islamabad, next month. He said the next trade policy will be announced in August and the business community’s suggestions will be incorporated in it.

LCCI President Irfan Qaiser Sheikh said that business community expects the government to safeguard the interests of private sector.