PARIS: Following the “extremely cordial and fruitful” talks at the Elysee Palace last evening [July 24] between President de Gaulle and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Mr Z.A. Bhutto, and the disclosure that France and Pakistan would sign an agreement soon abolishing visa formalities between the two countries, two further signs of growing Franco-Pakistan amity have now appeared.

The first is a friendly gesture by France towards Pakistan, as well as other developing countries, in the sphere of trade. The quota restrictions hampering entry into France of such goods as carpets, dried fruits, fish and sports goods have just been removed by President de Gaulle’s Government.

As a result the newly-appointed Commercial Secretary at the Pakistan Embassy in Paris, Mr S.F. Alam, has been flooded with inquiries from French firms wanting to import Pakistani sports goods and other products.

Franco-Pakistan trade, now running at about Rs 180 million annually, is expected to receive further stimulus from full utilisation this year by Pakistani exporters of their cotton textile quota of two-and-a-half million yards for France granted under a GATT agreement.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2014