Success of 'Trade for peace': Pakistan, India urged to remove non-tariff barriers

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Standing Committee Convenor for Promotion of Pak-India Trade Aftab Ahmad Vohra has urged the Pakistan and Indian governments to remove non-tariff barriers to realise the theme of 'Trade for Peace' in true sense.
While talking to Business Recorder on Saturday, Aftab said that some non-tariff barriers are hindering trade between the two countries. He said the Pakistan Railways per kilogram/per kilometre charges between Lahore and Wagha (30 kilometre) are three-time more than that of between Lahore and Karachi (1200 kilometre). Besides, the Pakistani importers have facility to avail 5 working days for free storage of goods at the ports/dry ports. On the contrary, the importers of Indian goods are provided only one day for free storage while in case of Wagha, only one-day is given for free storage to the importers who have to pay demurrage charges after one day which is discrimination and come under the purview of non-tariff barriers, he added.
Similarly, the importers have to pay Rs 1000 on account of scanning charges for a 20-foot container (having goods of 3 truckloads) at all ports and dry ports, meaning thereby the scanning of a truck costs only Rs 333 only. On the contrary, the importers of Indian goods have to pay Rs 2000 for scanning of a single truck. Likewise, the unloading and loading charges are also four-five times more than that of other ports, he added.
The hurdle in promotion of trade on the Indian part, Aftab said, is that there is no laboratory at Atari in India to test the quality of Pakistani goods and thus the samples have to be transported to Delhi, which take 8-10 days, and laboratories are available in Lahore to test the quality of Indian goods which can provide report within a day. He emphasised that both governments should take serious steps to resolve the issues so that trade between the two countries could be enhanced which in turn could help avert possibility of war between Pakistan and India.
Vohra said that no country could achieve progress and prosperity in true sense until and unless it has good economic ties with all its neighbours. Thus Pak-India talks, held after a gap of four years, is a step in right direction. While citing the example of US and Mexico, Vohra said that formation of Joint Working Groups and task- specific committees to resolve issues relating to Pak-India trade show the seriousness prevailing in two sides and would definitely go in a long way in giving a new lease life to economic ties between the two countries. However, he added, all the chambers of commerce must be made part of this mechanism.
He said that measures need to be expedited to ensure visas to the business people and, for this purpose, both governments would have to work hand in hand to allay misperceptions. He said that the decision to replace positive list with negative list is very welcoming step as through the negative list it would be easier for both sides to identify the items hurting the local industry in both countries.
He stressed the need for removal of non-tariff barriers like charges by NLC at Wagha and charges by Pakistan Railways specifically for Indian trade. Elaborating his points. On the establishment of recognised joint chambers at apex and regional levels, Vohra said that LCCI for being an important stakeholder should be taken on board while taking any decision in this regard.