ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Turkey on Thursday started negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) covering trade in goods, services and investments.

According to a press release issued after the inaugural session held in Turkish capital Ankara, the two sides reiterated their commitment to have a comprehensive FTA and conclude the negotiations on a fast-track basis.

The Pakistan delegation was led by Commerce Additional Sec­retary Robina Athar and the Turkish side was headed by Acting Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy Husnu Dilemre.

At the conclusion of the session, the two sides signed the terms of reference (TORs) for FTA negotiations.

The next round of the negotiations will be held in Islamabad in December.

The decision to have an FTA between the two countries was taken by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu in February this year during the fourth session of High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSC) held in Islamabad.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2015

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