India cuts sensitive items list by 30pc

KARACHI: India has approved a 30% cut on the list of sensitive items, which will also affect the list of sensitive items for Pakistan.

According to sources in the Indian ministry of commerce and industry, India has approved a cut in the sensitive items list in accordance with the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) and will bring the sensitive items list for Pakistan down to 614 from 878.

It is expected that Pakistan will also reduce the sensitive items list by 20% in accordance with SAFTA, the sources further said.

According to sources in the Pakistan ministry of commerce it is yet to be assessed which products have been removed from the sensitive items list by India and which ones will be exportable to India henceforth.

Sources added that a meeting is expected between the commerce secretaries of India and Pakistan in September for the promotion of trade between the two countries.