Trade policy widens scope for imports from India

[anurag]

By Mubarak Zeb Khan

ISLAMABAD, July 18: The trade policy for the fiscal year 2008-09 unveiled on Friday sets an ambitious export target of $22.10 billion, but avoids projecting an import target because of rising international oil and food prices.

The policy, announced by Commerce Minister Ahmad Mukhtar at a press conference, offered a number of incentives for traditional products. It envisages establishment of 11 new industrial clusters, reactivation of the Federal Export Promotion Board and review of the TDAP Ordinance to improve its working.

Import of more than 136 new items from India has been allowed. Of these, 72 tariff lines were added to the importable list for raw materials, chemicals and industrial inputs, nine tariff lines for pharmaceutical products and vaccines, two for fruit and vegetables, 19 for fertiliser, 32 for machinery and parts and two for POL and diesel.

With the inclusion of these items, the total list of tradable products with India has been increased to 1,938 tariff lines from earlier 1,837. The global import of these 136 tariff lines stood at $2.8 billion of which $2.2 billion was spent only on import of POL and diesel.

This means the government has diverted this import value of $2.8 billion to India which will increase its exports to over $3 billion from the current level of $1 billion and become the second largest trading partner of Pakistan after China.

After this increase in imports from India, the grant of MFN status to India would become meaningless, but commerce minister linked it with the removal of non-tariff measures by India.

The government will allow the import of used buses not more than 10 years old under the transfer of residence scheme for overseas Pakistanis and import of CNG buses from India.

If Indian manufacturers of CNG buses make a firm commitment to manufacture such buses in Pakistan, the ministry of commerce may provide special dispensation for import of 10 buses by road via Wagha from each possible investor as test consignments.

Duty and taxes have been withdrawn on plant, machinery and equipment imported to set up a unit under the Duty and Taxes Remission for Export (DTRE) scheme. Inputs in DTRE have been allowed to be imported from India, even if these are not included in the importable items from India, or manufactured locally.

Full Story: Dawn

[wahab590]

so maybe we can see a Tata bus plant here in future

[vickybhai]

Yaar shame on us coz the country that got independence with us is now more advance than us.Even though we hav more resources but we wod import buses from india.India also manufactures Prado n we cant even make a good quality Mehran.Experts said that india wud be TARAKI YAFTA country in 50 yrs n it wud take us almost 150 yrs to be TARAKI YAFTA country.we are still fighting that each other that u r a Punjabi n i m a sindhi.ab bhi hum loge Sunni SHiyah fasadat peh ler rahey hain where as in india people just think they r only indian not muslim or Hindu n on this thinking they serve thier country.

[insaan]

^^^^^^
"WHY SO SERIOUS?"...

[bon747]

will love to see indian car on paki roads...

specially TATA nano...

[docebzz]

@vickybhai let me put a smile on that face of yours.

[KamranAslam]

What India has achieved today in commercial market it has a long struggle behind it.

The nation who struggle as a whole --- get blessed despite of there culture/race/religion we all are God made, if we work in a +ve way we can get the same place as India in couple is decades, @vicky there is no need to think this way we are good and +ve its only the matter that the good ones are less, why don't you, me and all others @PW take it as responsibility to take a +ve action for our country -- I am sure this can work.

Good to here that both the countries are working with each for the betterment of their ppl. God Bless us all especially who think +ve.

[wahab590]

yes India has prospered due to democracy and independent justice, we were independent the same time, but due to corruption we have suffered alot. China, Singapore got independence after us, see their remarkable struggle and growth. Independent judiciary is a back bone of a prosperous future, by it one can get his due rights.
My Pakistan Studies teacher used to say, that when british came to subcontinent, the hindus accepted their language and education readily, but muslims rejected it and lacked behind, hindus became officers and muslims peons, i'm talking generally. After abt 20 yrs Sir Syed brought muslims towards modern education. This 20 yrs gap u can see still exists between us and India.
We hope for a good future.

[anurag]

I feel its right time to Make history rather than talking history

[KILLMAN]

well said ^

[datzburier]

Actually Pakistan was ahead of India in Indusrialization uptill 1970s. America's Dodge Car was being made in Pakistan in 1960s, when only Britain and Austrailia were making American cars, imagine that. And in terms of GDP, and Pakistani Rupee value Pakistani Rupee was ahead of Indian Rupee till mid. 1990s. Average Pakistani is still more healthy than an average Indian, in terms of average daily Calori intake, and the amount of homeless people.

Its all our fault, the people, and the government to let our fast industrializing and progressing country to detrack. The first blow came after Political mess in East Pakistan and split of Bangladesh.

The Second Blow was Nationalization by Zulfiqar Bhutto, he took all the Private Industrial units and brought them under government's control. That made all those fast industrializing units into Slow and Lazy part of Government's political mess.

The Third Blow came from Military Generals keep butting into the government.

So, all these had a cumulative effect. Politicizing the progress of the country, like making the Kalabagh Dam a political issue, now the whole country is suffering. That Dam, alone could have eliminated all the electricity shortage Pakistan is now facing, and importing expensive foreign oil to keep the remaining Electric units to produce electricity. Its mess after mess, by the government.

People in Pakistan are not stupid and lazy, but they fell victim to Military and Politician's mess.

Same with Military Generals, they all rise and take over the government to rip off people.

Lets hope for the best and Raise our voices and bring forward a SMART and Intelligent government. The young people need to become involved in thinking for the progress of the country and run for the political leadership.

Support the intelligent people, and make them your leaders. Not the usual Zardari, Sharif, group, they are only capable of Looting. Zardari is now the Richest Man of Pakistan, and his father was only a Poor average, business man. Same is true about Sharif's family, they made all the wealth from Politics.

[datzburier]

These newly higly enlightened leaders of Pakistan should also Make sure India is also reciprocating the same for Pakistan and allowing more imports into India from Pakistan.

We have alot to offer. The workmanship of Pakistani Skilled labor is World Class. The Marble Industry, The Furniture, The leather and other textile products are exremely good, even Better in Quality than Indian made garments that we see in US when compared with Pakistani Made garments exported to USA. Even the Packaging and taste quality of food items of Pakistani items is far superior than that of India's. I have tried Achaar from India it tasted like Raw hard Wood and smelled like it was expired and it was in a cheap Tin Can, when compared to Ahmed's Pickle Achaar, that tasted Marvelous, with soft well processed achaar and great aroma. It was in double packaging, first vacuum sealed and then in a beautiful white Plastic Jar, with all the proper labels and good graphics along with all the proper Nutrition labels, etc. Its just one small example.

I have seen alot of things exported to USA from Pakistan not just food items, that have far greater quality than items exported from India to USA. Too bad, people in Pakistan do not realize that.

I think it will be great to get some items from India into Pakistan, when Paksitanis will see themselves and get a taste of the Indian Achaar that I have tried, they will realize how good Pakistani Items are.

IT and Software is so far the only place where India has advandvantage against Pakistan when it comes to exports to the West. That too is mainly due to their Focus in that Field since early 1970s, Pakistan had a late start in IT probably in 1990s and it Still has a long way to go. But the important thing is that we have got started in the IT field. Hopefully we would do the same in the IT field as we have shown in the other Tradition low tech export items to US and the West, when compared to India.

[Clubshaker_UK]

@ datzbuzier

I Learned alot from that article(Y)

[Fuhrer_Hurricane]

very well......everything in the wrong direction!!

i really appreciate your comment about making history anurag(Y)

[anurag]

^^ Thanks bro

[DesiBoy]

IT and Software is so far the only place where India has advandvantage against Pakistan when it comes to exports to the West.

Not just in IT but the Auto Industry of India is also quite advanced... apart from being the leading manufacturers in India, many India Auto companies also export to many countries.

Example:

4 Wheelers: Tata Motors (Owner of Jaguar and Land Rover), Mahindra and Mahindra

2 Wheelers: Bajaj Auto, TVS Motors

[a4ahsan]

its a good step from govt to provide more veriety, but this can have negative effects on our economy.
our already dollar dependant economy will be dependant on india too,

[DesiBoy]

Wouldn't it be great if these models are seen in Pakistan..??