November 4, 2003	Tuesday	Ramazan 8, 1424

ISLAMABAD, Nov 3: A high-level Pakistani delegation is scheduled to leave for Bangladesh by the middle of this month to initiate dialogue on the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.

An official source in the ministry of commerce told Dawn on Monday that the delegation would leave on November 15 for Dhaka to initiate dialogue with its counterpart on the proposed treaty.

During the two-day meeting the officials of the two countries would discuss at length the modalities and framework of the proposed agreement.

This meeting would be followed by a visit of Bangladeshi high official to Islamabad to discuss the remaining part of the agreement, added the official.

Official statistics made available to Dawn showed that Pakistan’s trade surplus with Bangladesh has registered a constant growth during the last five years.

It was $87.315 million in 1998-1999; $90.957 million in 1999-2000; $100.214 million in 2000-01; $73.398 million in 2001-02 and $81.691 million 2002-03.

Further analysis showed that Pakistan’s exports to Bangladesh stood at $114.356 million during 2002-03 against $101.138 million the previous year, showing an increase of 13 per cent.

Imports from Bangladesh stood at $32.665 million in 2002-03 against $27.740 million the previous year, showing an increase of 17.7 per cent. Pakistan’s major exports to Bangladesh includes raw cotton; cotton yarn; cotton fabrics (woven); synthetic fabrics including silk and woollen and road vehicles and their parts. The major importable commodity from Bangladesh is raw jute.