Pak, Malaysia to finalise FTA in February
By Asad Cheema

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan and Malaysia will finalise modalities of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) during next round of negotiation to be held in the February next for boosting and giving impetus to their bilateral trade relations.
Malaysians have agreed to provide market access to Pakistan’s traditional items of export including mangoes, textile, leather, surgical instruments and other agriculture and manufactured goods. Oranges potatoes and lemon are being exported to Malaysia at zero duty w.e.f January,1, 2006.
According to official sources the government gives importance to the input and suggestions of all the stakeholders including the business community in the formulation of Trade policy and assured them that their useful suggestions would be accommodated in the forthcoming trade policy. Agreement to this effect was discussed during the recently concluded seventh meeting of Trade negotiating committee (TNC) of the Pakistan-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement at Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
The Pakistan delegation was led by Shahid Bashir, joint secretary ministry of commerce, while the Malaysian delegation was led by Dato Ooi Say Chuan, Deputy Secretary General, Ministry of International Trade and Industry. According to sources the meeting was held in an atmosphere of complete cordiality and understanding and both the sides made substantial headways in finalising the draft.
Except a very few most of the draft agreement chapters have been agreed upon. It is expected that the market access secured by Pakistan through this Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will enhance Pakistan’s exports to Malaysia and will also bring the people of the two friendly countries closer. The draft FTA also includes a chapter on promotion and protection of investment.