ISLAMABAD, Dec 18: An official delegation will leave on Sunday for Sri Lanka to finalize the fresh list of items to be considered under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries.

An official in the commerce ministry told Dawn on Saturday that list of fresh items were already exchanged through the diplomatic channels by both sides.

During the two-day meeting, the officials of the two countries would finalize the lists.

Pakistan has offered to Sri Lanka Tariff Reduced Quotas (TRQs) on tea, betel nuts and betel leaves under the FTA.

However, Islamabad asked for similar concession on its export of rice, potatoes and onions to Colombo.

According to the official, Islamabad has also withdrawn its items of garment sector and other textile related products from the concession lists previously offered to the Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan authorities, the official said, have agreed to this decision, however, they demanded TRQs in certain textile sectors to be mentioned in the proposed fresh list of items for duty reduction.

The FTA framework agreement was signed by the two sides in 2002 during the visit of President General Pervez Musharraf to Sri Lanka. But it is yet to be finalized and implemented.

Opinion

Editorial

What now?
20 Sep, 2024

What now?

Govt's actions could turn the reserved seats verdict into a major clash between institutions. It is a risky and unfortunate escalation.
IHK election farce
20 Sep, 2024

IHK election farce

WHILE India will be keen to trumpet the holding of elections in held Kashmir as a return to ‘normalcy’, things...
Donating organs
20 Sep, 2024

Donating organs

CERTAIN philanthropic practices require a more scientific temperament than ours to flourish. Deceased organ donation...
Lingering concerns
19 Sep, 2024

Lingering concerns

Embarrassed after failing to muster numbers during the high-stakes drama that played out all weekend, the govt will need time to regroup.
Pager explosions
Updated 19 Sep, 2024

Pager explosions

This dangerous brinkmanship is likely to drag the region — and the global economy — into a vortex of violence and instability.
Losing to China
19 Sep, 2024

Losing to China

AT a time when they should have stepped up, a sense of complacency seemed to have descended on the Pakistan hockey...