India's potential of trade with Pakistan could be reached provided Islamabad implements SAFTA by July, pointed out Shivshankar Menon, Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan while addressing SAARC Chamber.
"If SAFTA is implemented as it was intended to be --MFN plus was the portrayal used by Pakistan ministers earlier-- we could begin to realize the probable of direct trade between our countries," he said.
All members of SAARC will have only negative lists and that movement restrictions, which go against the very essence of SAFTA will be abolished.
"If these two circumstances are not met, then SAFTA has slight operational meaning," he added.
Pakistan is trading with India with a positive list containing 750 items.
If SAFTA is implemented, it has to trade with India using a small negative list, leaving the rest of the products open for direct trade, he opined.
"We can build SAARC community with faultlessly integrated markets only if we can follow our self-interest and not allow controversial issues to vitiate the SAARC process," he said.
"We have a moment of opportunity and external conditions that make it possible for us to work for regional economic amalgamation," Menon comented.
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