South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) Secretary General Imtiaz Alam has welcomed the government’s decision to grant India the status of the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) as required by the World Trade Organisation (WTO). In a statement, the SAFMA secretary general said although much delayed, it was a good omen for the success of the agreement to create South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) that was signed in 2004 at the SAARC Summit in Islamabad. He said with the decision, the bilateral trade was expected to go up to over $6 billion and frequency of trade across the LoC would also go up to the benefit of the Kashmiri people. However, he cautioned that if the non-tariff and para-tariff barriers were not removed, the decision would not help promote trade and investment as had been the case with India’s granting of MFN status to Pakistan long ago. Alam said the decision would help reduce smuggling, trade via third countries, bring down import bill especially on intermediary goods, raise revenues and help meet seasonal scarcity of food items across the borders.
He said the Pakistani manufacturers should be encouraged to explore huge Indian market for their exports and also initiate joint ventures with their Indian counterparts. The decision should also help a liberal and easy visa regime to promote tourism and people to people contacts, he said, adding that improving connectivity across borders, was the most important element in promoting trade, investment and mutually beneficial dependencies. The SAFMA secretary general called on the two governments to move forward on other items of comprehensive dialogue to create solid basis for peace and cooperation between the two countries and the region at large.
He demanded lifting all barriers on free flow of information and free movement of journalists across South Asian borders. He hoped India and Pakistan would understand each other’s interest in bringing peace in Afghanistan.
SAFMA hails decision of granting India MFN status
