ISLAMABAD, Dec 16: The three European Union (EU) member countries - Ireland, France and Portugal - have assured that they would give careful consideration to Pakistan's case for continued market access for its exports to the EU market.

The understanding was reached in separate meetings of Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan with Irish Minister responsible for trade policy, Michael Ahern in the Irish Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment; the French Minister for External Trade, Francois Loos in Paris and Portugal Director General for Trade and Commerce, Dr Joao Neves in Lisbon.

An official announcement said that minister Ahern has assured commerce minister to give favourable consideration to demand for greater market access to the EU market. He also briefed the Pakistan's commerce minister of their Asia strategy, which sought to expand Ireland's trade relations with Asian countries.

Mr Khan briefed minister Ahern on the Expo-Pakistan being held in Karachi in February 2005 where Pakistan will showcase the whole range of its exportable products. He sought the understanding of Irish government for continued market access for Pakistani products in the EU, which was at present being discussed in the European Council.

He said that any restriction in this market access would jeopardize Pakistan's efforts to transform its society into an enlightened moderate Islamic state. "While the whole world recognized Pakistan's key role in the global war against terrorism, it is an irony that such a market access is being restricted by the EU to Pakistan when its development needs have in fact increased," he said.

Furthermore, Pakistan has invested massive resources in its fight against drugs trade as well as its support for the UN mandated security force in Afghanistan. In a meeting with French minister, it was agreed to enhance the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries.

During the meeting, the French side expressed their full understanding and support for Pakistan's viewpoint on market access. Both the sides agreed to enhance the present level of trade between the two countries by establishing linkages both at government levels and between the business communities of the two countries.

The minister extended a formal invitation to the French minister of external trade to visit 'Expo-Pakistan' being held in Karachi in February 2005. In his meeting with the Portugal Director General of External Trade and Commerce, the two sides shared their views on the enhancement of commerce and trade between the two countries.

The commerce minister briefed the DG on the trade and economic profile of Pakistan and invited the businessmen of Portugal to attend Expo-Pakistan in February, 2005.