All Pakistani products dropped from red list

Most of the goods imported from Pakistan are 'red listed' by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) on the pretext of security. After a long time, the country's products have been dropped from the 'red list' effective from September 29.

The import-export volume with Pakistan started shrinking since the Sheikh Hasina-led autocratic Awami League came to power in 2009.

After the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government on August 5, bilateral relations with the country began to normalise again.

In this context, on the request of Pakistan, the interim government took steps to drop all the imported Pakistani products from the ‘red list’.

According to a notification issued on Wednesday (September 2) and signed by Second Secretary to the NBR Md Abdul Qayyum, all types of goods coming from Pakistan to Bangladesh have been dropped from the 'Red Lane' of the Asycuda World system.

Only Pakistani products were in the 'Red List'. The products have been exempted from the 'Red List' as they passed the National Selectivity Criteria test.

Then notification said the NBR is following the path of simple procedure in import of daily essentials and release of those products from the ports, except prohibited goods including narcotics.

NBR sources said hopefully, through the withdrawal of all kinds of Pakistani products from the red list will pave the way to remove all hurdles in the import of raw materials for production-oriented products in the country.

All consignments from Pakistan are selected for 100% manual testing by National Selective Criteria. As a result, more time is being spent by Assistant or Deputy Commissioner level officials in red lane clearance. Moreover, Dhaka Customs House has been asked to be excluded from the National Criteria as no significant results are found in the physical examination.

A decision has been made to exclude all consignments of goods from Pakistan from the ‘national criteria’. Moreover, the customs houses will take the necessary steps regarding the implementation of the decision.

Moreover, the customs houses will take the necessary steps regarding the implementation of product-based risk management in the case of imports from that country, considering the risk from time to time under the local criteria.

On September 10, Pakistan's High Commissioner to Bangladesh Syed Ahmed Maruf met with Finance and Trade Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed. He called for strengthening the stagnant bilateral trade relations with Bangladesh.

At that time, Salehuddin Ahmed said the trade volume between the two countries had been stagnant for a long time due to various reasons. Pakistan is now eager to drastically increase the bilateral trade volume.

On the other hand, traders said if the official complications in importing goods from Pakistan are removed, it will be easier to import raw materials for production in the country.

Pakistani cotton, yarn and clothes are in high demand as raw material for the RMG sector.

manufacturing products in the country. The country also has a large market in Bangladesh for baby food, juice, cutlery and surgical equipment.