Karachi: Irfan Iqbal Sheikh President FPCCI categorically rubbished claims of news articles that private-sector of Pakistan was not consulted on recently signed and well-anticipated Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between Pakistan-Turkiye Trade in Goods Agreement.

He emphasised that we should be careful in giving press statements pertaining to very crucial, historical, brotherly and economically significant Pakistan-Turkiye relations.  He expressed his satisfaction over fact that PTA has been signed on August 12, 2022 in Islamabad in presence of commerce ministers of two counties. Being apex body, FPCCI represented entire business community of country on occasion. 

Irfan Iqbal apprised that in FY22, bilateral trade volume between two brotherly countries has crossed psychological barrier of $ 1 billion after a long hiatus of ten long years and has climbed up to $ 1.1 billion per year. Bilateral trade volume is expected to get a major boost in years to come and has potential to touch $ 5 billion mark in a matter of a few years.   Amjad Rafi Chairman of FPCCI’s Pakistan-Turkey Joint Business Council explained that a very rigorous and regular consultative process was going on in federal ministry of commerce for a period of one and a half years and stakeholders from business, industry and trade community of Pakistan was duly and thoroughly consulted.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 16 2022

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