Pak, Mauritius agree to broaden PTA benefits
By Khalid Amin

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan and Mauritius are agreed to further broaden the benefits of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) by organizing trade shows and market surveys in both the countries. Two days 7th Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting between Pakistan and Mauritius was held here on Friday.
The objective of the JWG is to dynamise trade and economic relations between the two brotherly countries. The Mauritian delegation was led by Secretary for Foreign Affairs Anand Priyay Neewoor,while Pakistani side was led by Ashraf M. Hayat, Additional Secretary for Commerce.
The Joint Working Group noted that the Pakistani eye surgeon, Dr Wajid Ali Khan and his team would be performing cornea transplant and vitreo-retinal operations on some desperate eye patients in Mauritius. The team is expected to undertake its charitable mission to Mauritius on 09 - 17 August 2008.
Government of Pakistan is considering financing Urdu House Project in Mauritius. The Project is estimated to cost Rs. 199 Million. Project details have been prepared by National Engineering Services of Pakistan (NESPAK).
The JWG noted that a Pakistani Consortium has expressed its willingness to construct the Jinnah Tower in Plaine Verte, Mauritius. The JWG, which is a formal mechanism for structured dialogue between the officials of the two countries meets alternately in Pakistan and Mauritius.
The Mauritian delegation was also called on Syed Secretary Commerce, Asif Shah, Secretary Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Riaz Muhammad Khan, Chairman, Higher Education Commission, Atta-ur-Rehman and Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission Dr. Akram Sheikh. The JWG reviewed progress in the implementation of the PTA which came into force on November 30 last year.
Both sides expressed satisfaction that the PTA has started generating positive synergy among the business peoples of the two countries. Both sides agreed to give full prominence to the PTA during the Pakistan Expo scheduled to take place in Karachi in October this year.
The Joint Working Group reiterated the need for the PTA to culminate into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) whereby substantially all products would be traded on duty-free basis. The FTA will go beyond trade in goods and will encompass trade in services and trade-related investment.
The officials underlined that visa facilities for business community and direct air links are crucial for the expansion of bilateral trade and investment. The JWG deliberated on the framework and modalities for bilateral cooperation in the fields of science and technology, fisheries and software development.
They also welcomed the fruitful interaction at NGO level which has paved the way for closer collaboration between the Shifa Trust Eyes Hospital and Mauritius. The 8th Joint Working Group meeting will be held in Mauritius during in July-August this year.