ISLAMABAD, April 19: Pakistan and Singapore would shortly sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Official sources told Dawn here on Monday that a high level Singapore delegation led by Minister for Health and Transport Mr. Balaji Sadasivan would hold detailed meeting with Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan on April 21 to discuss the early signing of the FTA.

The 18-member delegation includes six officials and 18 people from the private sector. Both sides have earlier discussed FTA issue when commerce minister went to Singapore in early February this year and later on March 10 a fact finding mission from Singapore also visited Pakistan.

"And now we expect to initially sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for FTA with Singapore during their current visit," an official said. He said that Singapore could import textile products, leather and some other items from Pakistan while Islamabad could import chilies, electronics and other IT related items from that country.

"There is a considerable scope for joint ventures," the official said adding that the Singapore delegation has arrived Karachi on Monday and held meetings with the officials of the Export Promotion Bureau and the representatives of Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).