Tuesday, June 7 2005 16:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan will review a ban on import of diesel and petrochemicals from India, when it next prepares the draft of the import-export policy, India's Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said today (Jun 6, 2005).

"Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has promised that the policy on import of diesel and LAB from India will be reviewed when their policy comes up for review next," he told reporters.

Aiyar could not take up the matter with Pakistan's Commerce Minister, who was away from the city, and nor was he able to say when Pakistan would review its import-export policy next.

"But I have asked our Petroleum secretary S C Tripathi to 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," said Aiyar, who is leading an Indian delegation to sort out modalities for the tri-nation Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline.

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.

Aiyar said the delay on Pakistani side to lift ban on diesel and LAB imports from India has been a boon, as by the time the policy is reviewed IOC's Panipat refinery expansion would be completed, increasing availability of exportable fuel.

Besides, the Panipat petrochemical complex would be up and running by October 2005.