September 24, 2006	Sunday	Sha'aban 30, 1427

ISLAMABAD, Sept 23: A high-level 22-member Malaysian trade delegation arrived here on Saturday to start the 7th round of negotiations on free trade agreement (FTA) with Pakistan.

An official told Dawn that the delegation led by Director General Foreign Trade of Malaysia Datooi Chuan would discus with Pakistani counterpart the details of the draft agreement, list of items for preferential duty and rules of origin.

The two countries had already implemented the early harvest programme (EHP) — a prelude to an FTA since January 1, 2006 on selected items, which would be replicated with the implementation of the FTA.

The official said during the two-day stay in Pakistan, the technical experts of the two sides would strive to finalise the draft agreement. It was likely that the draft agreement might be signed during the upcoming visit of Malaysian prime minister to Pakistan in November next.

The two sides have informally agreed to finalise all the details of the agreement by end of the current year and would implement the agreement in the year 2007. — Our Reporter