Pakistan is to table a list of 233 sensitive items under South Asian Free Trade Area (Safta) before the Indian trade authorities, during two-day Commerce Secretaries level talks commencing on November 14, 2011.

An 11-member delegation, led by Commerce Secretary Zafar Mahmood, will leave for New Delhi on Saturday to discuss what is being branded as an 'open agenda', and the top item is expected to be 'Most Favoured Nation' (MFN) status to India and removal of non-tariff and para-tariff barriers by India, according to an official.
The two sides will discuss ways and means to enhance bilateral trade, within three years, from current level of $2.7 billion to $6 billion per annum.

According to sources, Pakistan and India will cooperate for highly ambitious preferential trade relations under the framework of Safta.

The Commerce Secretaries will lay down specific timelines to normalise all trade relations, including dismantling of all non-tariff barriers," sources said.

Liberalisation of business visa regime will be concluded by November.

The new business visa regime would allow multiple entries and could be for a period of one year.

SOURCE: BUSINESS RECORDER