The row between Pakistan and United States over disruption of Nato supply has nothing to do with the delay in approval of the limited 'unilateral trade concession' facility proposed by European Union (EU) to Islamabad.
The EU package, offered to support Pakistani economy after the devastating flood, is likely to be approved next month as the EU members are still committed to give the temporary access to Pakistan, said Dr Tilo Klinner Consul General of Federal Republic of Germany while talking to officials of Towel manufacturers' Association of Pakistan (TMAP) here at TMA House on Friday.
He said the trade concession package which was already approved in World Trade Organisation (WTO) was to go through the trialogue meetings of European Commission, European Council and European Parliament and as per the progress being made so far it was expected that the package may be approved next month. He rejected the impression made in the local Press that the ongoing tension over the Nato supply to Afghanistan was affecting the EU trade package.
According to the Consul General, Germany was one of the proponents of the trade facility and still was standing on the issue to give access of the world's biggest market to Pakistani products. Talking about the GSP Plus facility, which could also support Pakistani products in EU, he said Islamabad could get the facility by 2014. Though the facility is more a political fighting inside EU, Pakistan indeed was needed to active diplomatic channels and other links to get the facility approved.
He said German companies collectively were doing well in Pakistan. Some of the alternative energy projects were facing financing issue from Pakistan as his country demands local share for any investment abroad. "Unfortunately, Pakistan is depending much on an energy sources which the country itself lacks." Replying to a query, he said, security and other business friendly environment were needed in Pakistan which had huge economic potential. "Many German companies are working here while others are doing business with Pakistani counter parts in Dubai," he added.
To a question, he said though India was comparatively much regulated and protectionist market, FTA with New Delhi would go through long and complex procedures at EU. On the occasion, TMA Chairman Feroz Alam Lari said Pakistan was exporting only 200 million dollars worth towel to the EU countries a negligible share as compared to other towel exporting countries. He said EU members could also be benefited by 19 million dollars in terms of taxes and duties from only towel sector if the much delayed EU trade package was approved.