September 20, 2002	Friday	Rajab 12, 1423

ISLAMABAD, Sept 19: The Tunisian government has asked for enhancement of fertilizer exports quota to Pakistan aiming to bridge the trade gape between the two countries.

The decision to this effect is likely to be taken in the forthcoming Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) meeting later this month, a senior official in the Ministry of Commerce told Dawn on Thursday.

The JMC meeting would be attended among others by Privatization Minister Altaf Saleem and representatives from the private sector.

The meeting would discuss at length the items to be allowed at concession to enhance the trade between the two countries, said the official.

Tunisian fertilizer exports to Pakistan amounted to $7.171 million during the financial year 2001-02, against $9.737 million during the fiscal 2000-01, showing a decrease of 26.35 per cent.

According to the official, fertilizer was the major and only source of exportable items of Tunisia to Pakistan and they wanted to increase the quota for the same.

And Pakistan would seek increase for market access of the textile products.