Indian role in Saarc criticised

Published May 27, 2007

DHAKA, May 26: Smaller trading partners in expanding eight-nation Saarc realm continued whining about apathy of bigger player, India, to make long-conceived South Asian Free Trade Area (Safta) operational.

The fresh grievances were vented at a seminar on trade liberalisation under Safta on Saturday as top business leaders from Saarc member states in meetings here critically reviewed progress on introducing free trade in the region.

“After declaring positive lists in Safta, India sent fresh list to the border containing new lists for goods, and that is hampering trade between India and Pakistan,” Mahmood Ahmed, a delegate from Pakistan, told the seminar.—PPI

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