The trade concessions for Pakistan given by the European Union (EU), to be discussed at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on November 7, are likely to be approved as India has promised to withdraw its opposition to the facility.
In a written reply to a question raised by MNA Pervaiz Malik, Commerce Minister Amin Fahim told the National Assembly in the Question-Answer Hour that the EU had announced concession for Pakistan on 75 tariff lines on September 16, 2010 which were subject to the WTO wavier and the WTO would take up the matter on November 7 this year. The concessions earlier opposed by India were now likely to be approved as India had promised during the minister’s visit to India to not oppose the concessions any further.
Moreover, the minister also told in the written answer that the overall trade deficit for the year 2010-11 was around $15.58 billion as reported by the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) and the reason for the increase in the deficit was due to increase in oil and other commodities which formed considerable bulk of Pakistani imports.
Meanwhile, Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour said around 19 companies had submitted tenders which would be opened on November 2. He also added that the company-awarded contract would provide six locomotives each month to the Pakistan Railways. He said only the highest bidders were given land on lease in the past per the laws.
To a supplementary question raised by Ayaz Amir, the railways minister said that his request could be considered if sent through the proper channel. Amir had said that Railways’ land in Chakwal was being encroached by different people and the district management should be allowed to convert it into a children’s park with the condition that the land would be returned to Pakistan Railways if needed in future.
To a question about illegal occupation of Railways land, the minister said the Pakistan Railways had a magistrate in the past but that post was abolished when the system of magistracy rolled back in the country. He said magistrates were very helpful in saving Railways land from grabbers.
The speaker told the minister to provide a complete list of the Railways lands under illegal occupation in the country that the minister promised to provided to the House soon.
When PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal asked if the government would bring the matter of the Most Favoured Nation status to India in parliament, Makhdoom Shahbbuddin said the matter would be first discussed in the parliamentary party of the government and would come to parliament only if referred to it.
