Extensive sensitive lists being maintained by different countries was hindering progress and growth of trade within SAARC countries, the Attock Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) observed.
“The last two decades have witnessed a number of attempts by South Asian countries to promote intra-regional trade through several agreements but with limited success,” ACCI, President, Tariq Mehmood said while addressing business community.
Main reason behind reduced intra-SAARC trade, which was hovering around four per cent of the total trade, was large negative trade lists maintained by the member countries which had left all efforts to boost trade almost unsuccessful, he added He was of the view that all countries of the region must realize that trade agreements could be beneficial only when negative lists were maintained on merit and for a specific period to be phased out eventually.
FPCCI Committee on Health, Chairman, Tariq Mehmood, said that all SAARC countries should review the sensitive lists for reduction every two years under the tariff liberalization programme of SAFTA.
Pakistan-India Commerce Secretary level talks from 20th
The Pakistan-India Commerce Secretary level talks will be held here from September 20. Indian Commerce Secretary, S. R. Rao accompanied with an 11-member delegation is to visit Pakistan on September 20 to hold secretary level talks with his Pakistani counterpart Munir Qureshi here, a senior official in the Commerce Ministry told APP. Both sides will discuss various issues including development on negative list between the two countries, bilateral trade.
