Pakistan, India develop roadmap to boost trade

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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** Two countries agree to focus on establishing working groups to resolve issues

  • Decide to undertake ‘new initiatives’ to enable trade of electricity, POL products

By Sajid Chaudhry*

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India on Thursday developed a clear roadmap for trade cooperation, focussing on establishing working groups to resolve issues and reducing non-tariff barriers to enhance bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

A joint statement released by India and Pakistan’s top civil servants for commerce said they decided to undertake “new initiatives” to enable the trade of electricity and petroleum products with energy-starved Pakistan.

Quickly moving towards liberalising trade with India, Pakistan agreed to move towards negative list based trade from the existing positive list based trade regime by October 2011. Few hundred items will be included in negative list and all remaining thousands items will be allowed for import from India under the proposed regime of negative list based trade.

Both the sides also agreed not to allow political and security situation block efforts for promotion of bilateral trade ties by putting in place institutional framework.

At the end of the two-day session, the two sides made a roadmap towards what the Pakistan commerce secretary called “the logical end of the trade talks”. Both the countries formed a “joint working group” and task-specific committees with clear deadlines to resolve all outstanding trade issues.

In a media briefing, Commerce Secretary Safar Mehmood termed the fifth round of talks “much more comprehensive and productive”, as both the countries created institutional mechanism and a clear cut mechanism which would be irreversible.

During the talks, Pakistan recognised that grant of Most-Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India that would help expand the bilateral trade relations. The two countries showed intention to explore the possibility of entering a mutually agreed preferential trade agreement to further promote bilateral trade by extending tariff concessions. Promotion of bilateral investments and cooperation in information technology was agreed besides opening of bank branches in each other’s countries.

“We (both the sides) have agreed to remove non-tariff barriers and all other restrictive practices, said Mehmood.

He said that as a first major step towards liberalising trade with India, Pakistan had agreed to replace positive trade list with negative list by October 2011. He also said that the issue of Afghan transit trade was dependent on the resolution of all outstanding political disputes. Friday, April 29, 2011
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\04\29\story_29-4-2011_pg1_2

i say this is very good news, has this been done in the past in south asian history? it’s happening whether you agree to indo-pak trade taking place or not, why is it naive to think that it’s best to look past the same old issues and actually look towards a progressive future in regards to indo-pak relations

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Re: Pakistan, India develop roadmap to boost trade

^^

wait for some pakistani to come and bash on trade favouring india

and this thread goes into an indo-pak war between internet warriors :bummer:

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Re: Pakistan, India develop roadmap to boost trade

^has it been done before in south asian history or is this a monumental move? wow the two countries are actually helping each other out in terms of resources and energy necessities, that i know hasn't been done before, usually it's been who can f who more...no?

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Re: Pakistan, India develop roadmap to boost trade

Wow... So much enthusiasm!

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Re: Pakistan, India develop roadmap to boost trade

Personally if one party becomes reliant on the other for goods and services this becomes dangerous in future because one party can be held to ransom.

Pakistan needs to focus on building its infrastructure and utilizing its resources because it should not be suffering from load shedding and such like because it has vast mineral resources such as gas and coal.

If it is equal trading where both parties benefit then it is not such a problem.

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Re: Pakistan, India develop roadmap to boost trade

^it seems like equal trading of basic necessities, why think otherwise, is it so bad that they become reliant on each other.

whether the internet warriors like it or not, it’s still happening, or atleast it was happening, after the latest big news that been so annoying all over the internet, conspiracy theories and all, i’m not sure how it would affect this new venture by both countries

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Re: Pakistan, India develop roadmap to boost trade

Its not India that will become reliant on Pak, its the smaller economy that will become reliant on the larger economy.
And yes, it is so bad. If Pakistan becomes reliant on the Indian economy, it will be negotiating from a position of weakness in resolving long standing issues such as Kashmir among other things. And since India is more then satisfied with the status quo, there will be no impetus for them to want to resolve the conflict.
Basically we would be selling out our country, and the Millions of Kashmiris suffering under Indian occupation.

Internet warriors or not, its not happening. The Pakistani establishment is smart enough to understand that we would be undermining ourselves in opening up trade.
And lets not kid ourselves. Indians aren't stupid, they know what they are doing, its amazing Indians like you are so unbelievably naive.

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Re: Pakistan, India develop roadmap to boost trade

I am completely against ANY kind of concessions to India at this time, let alone MFN. I hope Pakistan reconsiders this.

India is an extremely dangerous enemy and unless she stops terrorism in Pakistan, there is no way peace between these two neighbors can ever be achieved.

They NEVER ever forget to hit Pakistan really hard, when Pak is down. Look for example right now...

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Re: Pakistan, India develop roadmap to boost trade

dupe...

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Re: Pakistan, India develop roadmap to boost trade

no concession sought by india ,we want to live in peace nothing else

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Re: Pakistan, India develop roadmap to boost trade

Then stop terrorizing Kashmir and end your occupation.

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Re: Pakistan, India develop roadmap to boost trade

we do not need certificate from supporters and and freinds of osama bin laden jahannumi

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Re: Pakistan, India develop roadmap to boost trade

No you dont need any validation from Pakistan. But you should have some shame none the less.

Your Army is inflicting all sorts of terror on Kashmiri people and the Kashmiris themsevles dont want you. Why do you insist on being such a nation of terrorists?

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Re: Pakistan, India develop roadmap to boost trade

who are you ? new khalifa of the ummat ul musalmeen? who appointed you ? oh it looks self appointed spokesman of the oppressed muslims of the terror outfits of the world,i hope you are very happily not living in peaceful pakistan very peacefully?although it is just like when khalifa haroon al rashid ruled .
but i know you can not live in pakistan you are supposed to be killed in sucide blasts, sectarian violence, riots, or simply gunned down in crossfire of two jehadi groups .
kashmir is integral part of india we have regular election every five years ,despite every type of call of bycott alongwith threat of massacre last elections were held and people took part in election by more than 60 percent , now elected govt is ruling there ,all india averages are not more than 50 percent it means people there are fed up with pakistani awara jehadis ran away from afghanistan frightend by american commandos , so mind your country’s affaires which being most dangerous place on the earth you have been forced to live in u.s.a. .remember every year touristes from allover india visit kashmir valley, and last year it was in record nos.

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Re: Pakistan, India develop roadmap to boost trade

I have no problem with equal trading and being fair to local traders and international relationships.

But in the capitalist market what usually happens is a dominant nation like india can flood the pakistani market with its goods which is usually cheaper and this will result in the pakistan consumer becoming reliant on indian goods and then they can charge any price they want.

India did a good thing in past when they controlled their own markets to prevent foriegn corporations over running their country they invested in self reliance and build their own industries and services.

Pakistan needs to take a similar line and build itself up first focusing on its infrastructure and economy.

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Re: Pakistan, India develop roadmap to boost trade

do you live in pakistan, I don't live in india either nor did i grow up there, but i wish for the best to happen in south asia, yes for both countries b/c do you know how unbelievably annoying it is to be south asian and to have south asia seen as one of the most dangerous places to live or visit, both countries are in this little bubble.

have you ever taken a look at ajk's constitution? i never really realized how much it's not 'azad' it fooled me into thinking so though. it's all about kashmir banegay pakistan and that's how it's written. when almost 90% of ajk's governing body is made up of pakistanis or chosen by the prime minister or president of pakistan, how exactly is it azad? both countries are playing little games with the residents of j&k and ajk, that's why stop with the fooling and move on to progress with something like this. the average pakistani or indian probably doesn't get affected by this venture much now, but in the long run it will bring so much peace and progress, or atleast i'm hoping it will. that's not being naive, it's called having foresight

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Re: Pakistan, India develop roadmap to boost trade

why would indian products dominate though, wouldn't that make pakistani companies work harder in making their product just as good and affordable so in the long run it would be good for the average pakistani or indian consumer b/c they would end up getting good quality products(pakistani or indian depending on which price is more affordable)at the best prices. it would be a win win. why can't both countries build each other up and focus on their own infrastructure and economy at the same time.

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Re: Pakistan, India develop roadmap to boost trade

“national honour and integrity will not be traded just for the sake of prosperity” Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said on Saturday (30/4/2011) at a ceremony held at the GHQ!

As you can see, the generals are more concerned with their “honour and integrity” than the betterment of common pakistani and since general’s bread and butter lies with the animosity with india, the trade thingy is not going anywhere!

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Re: Pakistan, India develop roadmap to boost trade

LOOONNNGG stupid rants arent going to bring peace to the world.

If you really believe in peace, then stop pretending to be a peaceful nation, and actually pursue peace actively and in earnest, with genuine sincerity.

The world knows your commiting terrorism in Kashmir, Kashmiris themselves want you out, so why are you still barking? Your not fooling anyone. Just get out of Kashmir, its not yours to occupy.

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Re: Pakistan, India develop roadmap to boost trade

No, betterment doesnt depend on better relations with India it depends on better governance at home.

Pakistan can have integrity and honor, without selling themselves to India and compromising on principle.