28 July 2007: Islamabad

Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan has said that bilateral relations between Pakistan and Mauritius would be further consolidated with the signing of Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).

He stated this at a reception held to mark the Sixth Round of Joint Working Group (JWG) on Trade and Investment established between two brotherly countries at Port Louis on July 27 & 28.

The Pakistani side was led by Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce Nasim Qureshi whereas the Pakistan delegation was included Jamshed Khan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Khalid Mahmud, Chief (Export) Central Board of Revenue, Mrs. Raheela Tajwar, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Tariq Nawaz Janjua, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Textile, Muhammad Qazafi Rind, Section Officer, Ministry of Commerce and Azhar Saeed Butt, Vice President, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).

Mauritian side was led by Anand P. Neewoor, Secretary for Foreign Affairs who had led the Mauritian delegation for the Fifth Session of the JWG which took place in Islamabad January 11-13.

The Mauritian side comprised of Asad Bhuglah, Director Trade Policy, Amedee Darga, Chairman Enterprise Mauritius (EM), K. Dhabee, Solicitor General of the Attorney General’s Office, representatives from the Customs Department, Ministry of Finance and other relevant Ministries.

Anand Neewoor in his opening remarks stated that the signing of the PTA signifies of the qualitative upgradation of the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Mauritius.

Nasim Qureshi, in his opening remarks said that the early conclusion of PTA negotiations and the eventual signing of PTA underlines the goodwill that exists between the two countries.

Before start of the formal proceedings of the 6th round, the Pakistani delegation led by Nasim Qureshi called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs International Trade and Cooperation Madan Dulloo.

The Minister appreciated the work of technical experts of the PTA from both the sides and expressed the hope that bilateral relations between Pakistan and Mauritius will be further cemented with the signing of the PTA on July 30, by the two ministers.

The Minister for Commerce is expected to pay courtesy calls on the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Dr. Navin Ramgoolam, Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Rasheed Beebeejaun and other high political dignitaries on Monday.

Commerce Minister will also unveil the name plate of the Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah street in Plaine Verte, Port Louis in the presence of Asraf Dullul, Minister of Housing and Lands, James Burty David, Minister for Local Government and Hon. Reza Issack, Lord Mayor of Port Louis.

Source: Associated Press of Afghanistan