High non-tariff barrier from Pak affecting trade: India

India on Thursday said non-tariff barrier imposed by Pakistan has been badly affecting bilateral trade, asserting Islamabad needs to act constructively towards regional connectivity initiatives to spur economic growth in South Asia.

“As far as we are concerned there are high non-tariff barrier (NTB) in the region, not on Pakistan but from it,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

He was asked whether Pakistan was referring to India when it talked about NTBs in the region during visit of World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General Roberto Azevedo to Islamabad.

“Pakistan does not allow movement of all importable items from India through Wagah. In fact, it allows only 138 items through Wagah. This is the biggest NTB for thousands of Indian tariff lines which have to be routed through Karachi, raising costs, including for consumers in Pakistan.

“Moreover, the fact that Pakistan has not extended MFN status to India even after lapse of close to twenty years since India unilaterally did so, is not in keeping with WTO norms,” said Swarup.