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Pakistan

The government of Pakistan is a keen pursuer of bilateral trade and investment agreements. It has a full FTA with Sri Lanka (2005), a PTA with Iran (2004) and Mauritius (2007), Early Harvest Schemes with China (2005) and Malaysia (2007), and is part of both ECOTA and SAFTA. It is in various stages of FTA talks, or preparations for talks, with Brunei, Indonesia, Jordan, Thailand, Malaysia, Morocco, Singapore, the Gulf Cooperation Council, Canada, Switzerland, Indonesia, Nepal, China, Turkey and Russia (among others). In July 2006, it signed a Framework Agreement on Trade with Mercosur.

Negotiations on a US-Pakistan bilateral investment treaty, as a step towards a US-Pakistan FTA, have been quite controversial and are unconcluded. After talks restarted in mid-2010, a draft US-Pakistan BIT was sent for approval to Pakistan’s Cabinet in April 2012. The Pakistani government has already signed almost 50 BITs with other countries. In 2011 Germany ratified a BIT with Pakistan.

On a wider scale, there is talk of possible Pakistani FTAs with Afghanistan, Algeria, the EU, Japan, Laos, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and Tunisia.

last update: May 2012
Photo: Asian Development Bank/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0


Pakistan’s free trade ambitions threatened
One of the key impediments to Pakistan’s ability to become a robust performer in free trade tie-ups with a growing number of countries is the country’s worsening internal political environment. As someone said once, investors are like pigeons. They come one by one but all fly together when the going gets rough.
Free trade agreement with Malaysia soon
In a major breakthrough, Pakistan and Malaysia have decided to announce the much-awaited deal for free trade agreement (FTA) during the visit of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to Kuala Lumpur scheduled for May 27-29.
Talks on Pak-Czech investment treaty under way
Prime Minister of Czech Republic Mirek Topolanek has assured Pakistan that being the European Union member, Prague would play its role in strengthening Islamabad’s relations and striking a Free Trade Agreement with the bloc.
FTA with Brunei likely by year end
Modalities for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Pakistan and Brunei Darussalam are being finalised and hopefully the agreement would be in place by the end of this year. This was stated by Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Major General (retd) Syed Haider Jawed, while speaking at Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Thursday.
US plans to proceed to free trade agreement with Pakistan
US intends to go ahead to Free Trade Agreement with Pakistan after striking a mutual investment deal with Pakistan.
Trade policy for five years suggested
Trade bodies and associations have asked the government to pursue trade policy for at least three to five years and implement it in letter and spirit.
Talks with Efta for signing FTA soon
Pakistan will start negotiations with the European Free Trade Association (Efta) for signing Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which the Commerce Ministry hopes will boost Pakistan’s exports.
Pakistan, Russia to finalize bilateral investment treaty: PMs
Pakistan and Russia Thursday agreed to finalize a bilateral investment treaty and agreement on avoidance of double taxation with an objective to expand their trade and economic ties.
Musharraf for free trade agreement between Pakistan, United States
President General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday stressed the need for initiation of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Pakistan and the United States to strengthen the bilateral relations by boosting trade and investment links.
Pakistan, Thailand to establish stronger trade links
Pakistan and Thailand will establish a joint bank and trade centre to promote bilateral trade and investment, said Punjab Trade & Investment minister here Friday.

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  • Pakistan FTAs
    Webpage maintained by the Ministry of Commerce