Plea for concessions from the US

The federal government decides to request concessions on the import of Pakistani goods into American markets.

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to request concessions on the import of Pakistani goods into American markets during the strategic dialogue that is scheduled to take place between the two nations in Washington from October 20 onwards.

A senior official at the ministry of finance also said that these concessions will be granted following mid-term elections in the United States.

The Pakistani delegation is due to be led by the Minister for Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and the trip is expected to last for three days to conclude on October 22.

According to sources, it is expected that the Pakistani delegation will request the abolition of duties on millions of dollars worth of goods manufactured in the Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs). Currently, such concessions are granted under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) and after scrutinising labour laws and standards the delegation will request the US to expedite the process due to special circumstances.

Plans worth a billion dollars for resolving the existing energy crisis in Pakistan will also be discussed at the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2010.