13 trade pacts signed during last two years, National Assembly told

The government has signed 13 trade agreements with various countries including the United States of America during the last two years.
Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan told this while responding to a query of MNA Inayat Begum here in the National Assembly on Thursday.
In his written reply, Humayun said that these agreements were signed with the USA, India, China, Kuwait, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Turkey, Yemen and Iran.
He added that more agreements with other countries are also in the process of finalisation, however, no tariff concessions have been executed so far.
Giving details of these agreements, he informed the House that these trade agreements include Pak-Kuwait trade agreement, Pak-Morocco trade agreement, Pak-Sri Lanka free trade agreement, Pakistan-USA trade and investment framework agreement, Pak-China preferential trade agreement, Pak-Indonesia trade agreement, Pak-Yemen trade agreement and Pak-Iran preferential trade agreement.
Presenting further details, he said that Safta agreement was also signed among the Saarc countries in January 6, 2004.
Humayun said that the ECO trade agreement was signed on July 17, 2003 while Pakistan and Turkey signed two different agreements as well including preferential trading agreement and comprehensive economic partnership. He said that preferential trade agreement with China was operational since January 1, 2004, increasing Pakistan's exports to China by 35.4 percent over the last year.