Free Trade Agreements: Dastgir states trade deals advancing smoothly

Khurram Dastaghir says necessary work for FTAs with Turkey, Thailand completed

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir on Wednesday said necessary work has been completed for free trade contracts with Turkey and Thailand.

Replying to a question in the National Assembly, he said that in 2017 free trade contracts would be signed with South Korea. “We have trade opportunities with Russia in the field of defence and agriculture,” he said, adding that Russia was also interested in Pakistani potatoes and oranges.

According to Dastgir, the government has taken a major step towards strengthening its ties with Russia in the defence sector, adding that this would bring improvement in trade relations between the two countries. Pakistani farmers participated for the very first time in the agriculture expo held in Russia, he said. This would soon lead to major import trade, he added.

He told the National Assembly that for the last five years no contracts of import and export have been signed, adding that ten-year old agreements with China had also been renewed.

In addition, steps are being taken to facilitate Pak-Afghan trade and scanners have been installed in this regard, he added. The minister said before June 30 of next year, a major investment is being made on the Turkham-Chaman border. “We have to enhance and register trade agreements with Afghanistan in a suitable manner,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2016.

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