Saturday, December 10 2005 16:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: In a bid to increase imports of essential items from India, Pakistan will seek easing of visa rules for its traders and setting up of quarantine stations on Indian side of Wagah-Attari border.

With the imports of five essential items failing to pick up despite lifting of a ban, Salman Shah, Advisor on finance matters to Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has asked the Pakistan Foreign Office officials to take up the issue of easing visa formalities with their Indian counterparts.

Pakistan has lifted the ban on import of onions, meat products and lives animals, potatoes, garlic and tomatoes from India and even removed import duty on them in order to contain prices at home.

Subsequently Pakistan also lifted the ban on import of sugar three months ago. But the feedback was that no significant imports of these items were taking place.

At a meeting held yesterday (December 10,2005) with senior officials from various Ministries to discuss ways to facilitate import through Wagah Border land route, Shah asked asked the Foreign Office to initiate dialogue with the India to provide facilitation to Pakistani importers on reciprocal basis.

The issue of setting up a quarantine station on the Indian side close to Pakistani borders to facilitate expeditious clearance of live animals will also be taken up.

Pakistan has also waived off Rs 75 quarantine fee per animal to be imported from India to provide solace to livestock importers. Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock has issued a notification in this regard; officials were quoted as saying by Pakistan daily 'The News'.