ISLAMABAD, Nov 15: Pakistan will raise the issue of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) later this month at a special Saarc meeting on a plea that these barriers restrict export of Pakistani essential commodities to the highly protected Indian market, Dawn has learnt.

The Committee on Economic Cooperation (CEC) comprising Saarc commerce secretaries will meet on November 24-25 in Bangladesh after a break of three years to discuss important issues relating to enhancement of flow of trade among the Saarc member countries.

Pakistani delegation will be led by Commerce Secretary Syed Asif Shah. The last meeting of the CEC was held at Islamabad three years back, when Pakistan was the chairman of the Saarc.

According to an official source Pakistan has already submitted a long list of NTBs and para tariffs to New Delhi for consideration due to which Pakistani products could not enter the Indian market.

In India, a ministerial task force had already been constituted to identity these barriers but so far no progress has been made, the official added.

When contacted Commerce Ministry Joint Secretary Shahid Bashir confirmed to Dawn that a range of issues including the NTBs were placed on the agenda of the CEC meeting for discussion and progress made in these areas.

Citing an example of the NTBs, he said Pakistani cement exporters spent around eight months to comply with the Indian standards before they were allowed to ship their containers despite the fact that cement was in high demand in India because of unexpected boom in their construction sector.

Until these NTBs and para tariffs were not removed, it is unlikely that the reduction in customs duties will serve any purpose to increase the regional trade.

He said that the meeting would discuss all issues from tariffs to transportation and issuance of visas for businessmen of the Saarc countries.

He said that the meeting would also discuss the progress in study on the trade in services before making it part of the South Asia Free Trade Area (Safta). A study has been commissioned to identify the potential sectors for trade in services sector, which will also come for discussion to review the progress in the area.

According to the agenda of the meeting, the secretaries will dwell upon progress made in trade in lieu of Safta, if not what are the obstacles, which restrict the flow of trade among the Saarc countries.

The issues of regional connectivity through infrastructure -- better road, rail link etc., -- would also be discussed at length. There was already a committee of secretaries of communication of the Saarc countries to discuss these issues.

Pakistan, Bhuttan, India and Sri Lanka have already ratified the avoidance of double taxation treaty for income tax. However, the meeting would urge Nepal, Bangladesh and Maldives to speed up the ratification of the agreement which would further increase regional trade.

Mr Bashir said that the meeting would also discuss the progress so far made on promotion of investment in the region.