Despite MFN delay: Pakistan removes almost all trade curbs

"Pakistan's major exports are not being given preferential treatment,” says Pasha.

ISLAMABAD:

Though India has not been granted the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status, Pakistan has already liberalised 97% of trade with the neighbour, reveals a study conducted with technical assistance of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

The study was submitted and discussed in a meeting held here on Thursday, where officials of the commerce ministry and Prime Minister’s Secretariat, representatives of the agriculture sector and other stakeholders were present.

The study came quite late as the commerce ministry should have conducted research on the impact of liberalising trade before taking decision on the grant of MFN status to Delhi.

The study, conducted by economist Hafiz Pasha, endorsed the concerns raised by different stakeholders including the textile, industrial and agriculture sectors, a government official commented.

Indian trade regime is more restricted for Pakistani exports and on the contrary Pakistan has given much more access to Indian export goods.

“India has liberalised only 43% of trade for Pakistani goods and our major exports are not being given preferential treatment,” said Pasha in the study.

The study recommended that Pakistan should not at all discontinue its negative trade list that would serve as a shield for the local industry and agriculture.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2013.

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