November 6, 2002	Wednesday	Sha’aban 30,1423

ISLAMABAD, Nov 5: Pakistan is seeking free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States to broaden bilateral economic cooperation and greater market access, authentic government sources told Dawn on Tuesday.

The two sides have already held preliminary discussions on the subject over the last few weeks in Washington and during the meeting between finance minister Shaukat Aziz and the visiting US under secretary of state on Tuesday, these sources said.

The finalisation of the agreement, said these sources, would take some time in view of the US working process and congressional approval.

Finance minister Shaukat Aziz confirmed that he discussed on Tuesday the issue of FTA with the visiting US under secretary of state but added that the agreement was a long drawn process.

He said that major part of discussions revolved around quicker increase in quotas and greater market access for Pakistani products.

He said that the US was very supporting of the idea of developing gas pipelines from Turkmenistan to Pakistan because it was in the economic interest of all the three countries.