ISLAMABAD, Feb 3: Pakistan will seek duty free market access for export of fruits to Thailand under the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries.

An official in the commerce ministry said on Saturday that a high-level delegation had left for Bangkok to negotiate the proposed agreement with his Thai counterpart.

The two countries had already established study groups for identifying areas for increasing trade and other cooperation under the proposed FTA between the two countries.

The official said that both sides have agreed principally on duty free access for some fruits on either side, as a first step to a FTA between the two countries. Currently, customs duty applicable on export of fruits was in the range of 50 per cent on both sides.

According to the official Bangkok will withdraw import duty on mango, pomegranate, kinoo and long grapes from Pakistan.

Similarly, Pakistan will lift duty on the import of rambutan, mangosteen, longan and guava.

Pakistan exports yarn and fabrics, chemicals, finished oils and edible meat to Thailand. It imports automobiles, auto parts and accessories, chemical products, polymers, yarn and man-made filaments, rubber and rubber products.

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...