February 9, 2006	Thursday	Muharram 10, 1427

ISLAMABAD, Feb 8: Pakistan will sign an agreement with a French school of fashion for enhancing collaboration in fashion designs of textile products. An official told Dawn on Wednesday that the agreement would be signed by Commerce Secretary Syed Asif Shah and a representative from the National Association for Ready to Wear Garments, Paris, on Thursday.

According to the official, a four-member delegation led by the commerce secretary had left for Paris to sign the agreement with French Mode’ Spa, a fashion, marketing and merchandise school. This would be the first trade-related agreement between Pakistan and France.

Under the agreement, the French school would impart training and provide assistance on state-of-the-art fashion design to the Pakistan School of Fashion Design. According to the official, the commerce secretary would also meet the president of the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry and invite the chamber to participate in the upcoming Expo-2006. He would also meet the French authorities to seek their help in withdrawal of anti-dumping duty on Pakistan’s bedlinen, the official added.