Razak calls FTA with China pivotal

E-Paper | July 29, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on Textile, Commerce, Industry and Production and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood has underlined the need for enhancement of exports to China and to the global market.

Talking to Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing who called on him on Friday, Razak said the two countries enjoyed excellent trade and commercial relations cemented further by the signing of a free trade agreement (FTA) in 2006, which has added another dimension to the ever-growing business relations between the two countries.

Razak felicitated the Chinese ambassador for holding a mega event like China International Import Expo in November in Shanghai and expressed his gratitude for declaring Pakistan the ‘guest of honour’ at the event.

Jing informed the adviser that a buying mission was coming to Pakistan shortly.

Both sides agreed to work closely to build a brighter and prosperous future for the region.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2018

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abbas

Sep 15, 2018 09:52am

Is Pakistan getting anything from FTA? No we are giving & losing more. Must re negotiate business terms win win for both.

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Socrates

Sep 15, 2018 12:53pm

What can Pakistan export to China or for that matter to other countries of the world ? Hardly anything. The three major problems are (1) Quality control (2) exportable surplus and (3) Lack of consistency

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BAXAR

Sep 15, 2018 06:18pm

@Socrates "What can Pakistan export to China or for that matter to other countries of the world ?" Actually a lot of things can be designed for China's market. But that needs work, and workers needs to be paid. Unfortunately, our business community and exporters live on what they don't pay to the workers (and to the state). They want cheap labor, cheap labor makes cheap products. China makes better cheap products in huge quantity. Pakistanis have a tradition of making expensive products, we can work on it, but we also need to be paid accordingly.

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Haroon Rashid

Sep 15, 2018 06:45pm

@Socrates Sir, Pakistan being very rich in organic crop of its own. Our poor farmer doesn't know. We have never thought to promote Pakistan as the genuine ORGANIC crop from Pakistan soil, in the shelves of Metro, Hyperstar, local, and international stores, outlets. They should be sold at premium prices. Our fresh fruits, etc. We have the skills, know how, to be an example to export of telecom., technology to China in line with the WTO directives. issues of IPR, the exports violation of WIPO, also rail technology. We are very grateful to China for help and cooperation, but what should we do with very high depreciation of railway engines, which were worn out. We use to have GE before which lasted years and years. We need rail technology from China but in adherence to WIPO and IPR under license. As tenders essential need for purchase from Pakistan and as member of WIPO, Geneva.

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Haroon Rashid

Sep 17, 2018 01:10am

@Socrates The WTO has provided a road map to nations as China, Pakistan, India, and ROW a guideline of regional trade, bilateral trade, which is part of the world trade order. As MFN, FTA, PTA both Pakistan and China has a previlege to find ways and means to adhere to this, and benefit MUTUALLY. As we saw restrictions of Chinese Companies in the US but on the other companies has started in top gear in Pakistan to export their products and the markets. We seek level playing field in line with the CCOP the WTO to export our products to China depending on market forces.

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