November 20, 2001	Tuesday	Ramazan 4, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 19: A high-level Pakistan technical delegation that was scheduled to initiate negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement with Sri Lanka on Nov 20, has postponed its visit due to the prevailing situation in the region, an official source in the commerce ministry told Dawn on Monday.

The members of the delegation were due to leave for Colombo on a three-day official visit commencing from Nov 20 for carrying out consultations on free trade with their counterparts and consequently to draft the agreement.

For promoting trade between the two countries, the governments of both countries had already taken a decision to this effect to sign a comprehensive agreement, the source said.

Through the visit, the commerce ministries of both the countries wanted to select the items for duty-free import between the two countries, the source informed.

The commerce ministry has so far compiled a list of 600 items for both export and import, which would have to be discussed in the next meeting. Only those items would be allowed at concessionary rate, which both countries deemed fit, the source said.

Explaining the criterion for duty-free imports, the official said it would be purely based on give and take and no formula was yet worked out for it.