January 12, 2007	Friday	Zilhaj 21, 1427

ISLAMABAD, Jan 11: Pakistan and Mauritius have started the first round of talks on the preferential trade agreement (PTA) to be finalised in near future.

An official announcement issued here on Thursday after the meeting said that both sides agreed that various discussions on the PTA had been practically completed and further consultations should move on a fast-track basis to finalise an early harvest programme aiming at zero rate of duty on certain product before moving on to a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

The joint working group (JWG) covered substantial ground during the trade talks and moved closer towards the finalisation of the PTA. The meeting will continue on Friday and some more areas of cooperation in the technical and economic fields will be finalised.

Pakistan and Mauritius established the joint working group (JWG) for negotiating the areas for consideration under the proposed PTA between the two countries.

The secretary for foreign affairs, Ambassador Anand Neewoor, led the Mauritian delegation, while additional secretary, ministry of commerce led the Pakistani side.

Meanwhile, the Mauritian delegation called on Minister for Foreign Affairs Khurshid M. Kasuri and also met the secretaries of commerce, foreign affairs, and information technology, the announcement added.