Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar says Pakistan looks forward to concluding a Free Trade Agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council in the near future.
A Foreign office press release from New York said the Foreign Minister made these remarks during a meeting with the GCC Troika comprising the Deputy Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia‚ the Foreign Minister of Bahrain and the Secretary General of the GCC on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Khar said the GCC is a major trading partner and Pakistan would like to further expand and diversify its trade with the region.
She hoped keeping in view Pakistan’s special relations with the GCC‚ the latter would give preference to Pakistani workers.
While discussing the agenda for the next strategic dialogue‚ the Foreign Minister hoped that dialogue would take place in Pakistan before the end of this year.
The Secretary General of the GCC assured the Foreign Minister that FTA with Pakistan would receive special consideration.
The two sides also discussed the regional situation with particular reference to developments in Afghanistan‚ Syria and Libya.
Pakistan looks forward for FTA with GCC: FM
