List Of Imports From India To Be Expanded.

ISLAMABAD After a gap of two years that saw the suspension of trade relations with India, the country has unilaterally decided to take a lead by enhancing import of products from India — a decision likely to facilitate dialogue on economic and political issues between the two countries.

This is the second attempt by Pakistan to enhance tradable imports from India in the past seven months. In February, the Ministry of Commerce had allowed import of eight items from India, but the Indian government did not reciprocate by committing any specific deadline for reducing non-tariff barriers on imports from the country.

A source said on Wednesday that the ministry had approved a list of more than 18 items. This list, according to the source, would be sent to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet for approval.

After approval from the ECC, the items will be added to the list of tradable items from India. The list was formulated in consultation with the Ministry of Industries and Production, the source said.

The prime minister, the source said, had approved the list and it included mostly machinery and raw material for industries.

However, for the first time, the government has also allowed import of printed books of all kind and newsprint from India. The newsprint import was already permissible from India, but it was proposed to be allowed via land route to reduce cost.

The approved import list includes empty aluminium alloy milk cans, accessories for leather bags and footwear, jigs and dyes for vehicles, polymers, Lufenuron chemical for pharmacy sector, cotton linter, fungicides for leather industry and other chemicals (Ucer G-50) for leather industry.

The ministry also got approval to import throught land route import  the following items from India: Polypropylene, polyethylene, pure PTA, frozen vegetables and newsprint.

At present only raw material’s import is allowed from India under temporary importation scheme for manufacturers of export items. The ministry has, however, got approval to allow import of accessories for export-oriented textile/leather sectors.

Source : omantribune.com