ISLAMABAD, April 5: Pakistan has requested the Australian government for grant of tariff concessions under Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) which will ensure better market access to Pakistani products.

The request came at a time, when Pakistan had lost its export competitiveness in the Australian market.

An official source told Dawn on Thursday that Secretary Commerce Zafar Mahmood raised the issue with the Australian government in the recent Pakistan-Australia Joint Trade Committee meeting held in Canberra.

Both sides, according to the source, agreed that Pakistan will submit a formal request to Australia by end of this month to seek inclusion in the Australian GSP scheme. The Australian side not only agreed to consider Pakistan’s proposal regarding GSP when received but also said to respond within three months, the source added.

Under the GSP scheme, the Australian government reduce customs duties on imports of products which make its entry into domestic market easier as compared to other competitors of the same products.

An official document of the signed minutes of the meeting available with Dawn highlighted the growing integration of Pakistan’s agriculture sector with Australia and the emerging opportunities for business and investment for Australian companies in Pakistan especially with reference to long-term relationship in agriculture.

Due to these linkages, increased human resource development for Pakistan by Australia in this sector would be a win-win situation particularly as Pakistani business is graduating from textile to agri processing. The Australian side assured of its highest consideration.

Australia agreed to send an audit team to Pakistan by end May 2012 to get information regarding mangoes registered orchard/facilities. Islamabad agreed to provide details about the whole supply chain of mangoes to ensure export of the fruit to Australian market as per their standards.

Regarding export of other products, Pakistan also requested Australian government that import risk analysis for apples, oranges and seafood may be carried out at the earliest.

Australian side requested that Pakistan may prioritise the products. Pakistan will give its priority by June 2012 after consulting all stakeholders.

Australian side also informed of problem to their exporters as Department of Plant Protection (DPP), Pakistan asks the exporters or their importers details relating to commercial quality of shipment instead of restricting their queries to quarantine. Australian side also expressed desire to sign a protocol with DPP on quarantine issues  and informed  they  will submit the draft by June 2012. Pakistan side informed of its consideration to both these issues once details from Australian side was received. Regarding proposed investment treaty, Pakistan had already provided final text on bilateral investment treaty to Australia.

However, the Australian text is awaited. And Pakistan requested for the finalisation of the text latest by May 2012.

Australian government has showed unwillingness at the movement for initiation of dialogue of avoidance of double taxation treaty between the two countries.

And assistance was sought in the field of animal husbandry, livestock and veterinary education, training for teacher and sending teachers for short duration and provision of sunflower seeds, agriculture and food processing especially dairy, livestock and meat.