Pak may review ban on import of Indian diesel

By Our Economy Bureau | 08 Jun 2005

Islamabad: In response to petroleum minister Mani Shankar Aiyar''s offer to sell Indian diesel to Pakistan through the Wagah Border () during his Pakistan trip, Pakistan will review a ban on import of diesel and petrochemicals from India when it next prepares the draft of the import-export policy.

"Pakistan prime minister Shaukat Aziz has promised that the policy on import of diesel and linear alkslyne benzene (LAB) from India will be reviewed when their policy comes up for review next," Aiyar said today.

Aiyar said that petroleum secretary S C Tripathi will meet Pakistan''s commerce secretary and put in a formal request for taking diesel and LAB out of the negative list of importable items from India.

Aiyar is leading an Indian delegation to sort out modalities for the tri-nation Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline. Meanwhile, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has offered to export 325,000 tonnes of diesel through Karachi port and Wagah border to Lahore and Jhelum respectively during October 2005 to March 2006. The Panipat petrochemical complex would is also due to be up and running by October 2005.