July 9, 2006	Sunday	Jumadi-ul-Sani 12, 1427

ISLAMABAD, July 8: The ministry of commerce has invited suggestions and input from all relevant stakeholders on tariff concessions to be considered under the proposed free trade agreements with Malaysia and Singapore.

The ministry has already held two to three rounds of meetings on the proposed FTAs with these countries to finalize draft text, modalities and rules of origin before finalising lists of items for duty reduction.

An official announcement said in view of the ongoing free trade negotiations with Malaysia and Singapore, the ministry of commerce had invited input and suggestions from stakeholders, local industry and businessmen on tariff concessions, eliminations on goods to evolve a negotiation strategy.The ministry has requested major trade bodies, including the FPCCI, chambers of commerce and industry and representative associations and organizations representing traders of specific sectors, to send their input and suggestions at the earliest.— Our Reporter