9th round of Pakistan-Mauritius JWP held

Islamabad: The 9th round of Pakistan-Mauritius Joint Working Group was held here on February 21-23. In which both sides discussed the draft framework agreement for trade in services.

They also agreed to engage on project-based cooperation in the area of trade in services such as Information & Communication Technology, health, education, tourism and logistic services. The Joint Working Group (JWG), which was established in 2005, is a formal platform for structured dialogue between the government officials of the two countries with a view to dynamize trade and economic relations. As a first priority, the JWG worked on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), which is operational since 2007. The Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), allows some hundreds of tariff lines to be traded between Mauritius and Pakistan on preferential terms. The ultimate objective of this PTA is to pave the way for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that will encompass substantially all products and will also cover trade in services.

In this connection, a six member Mauritian delegation led by the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Anund Neewoor, attended the 9th session of JWG. The Pakistani delegation was led by the Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Shahid Rahim Sheikh. During the course of the deliberation, the need for further consolidating the PTA was underlined. It was also emphasized that concrete programs should be put in place to create synergies between the business community of the two countries. The Mauritian side showed keen interest in establishing cooperation with light engineering industry as well as the handicraft sector of Pakistan. The two sides have agreed to further deepen their collaboration in the field of higher education. Pakistan will facilitate the admission of Mauritian students for undergraduate and postgraduate programs as well as professional degrees. The JWG appreciated the collaborati! on betwe en the Pakistan's Al-Shifa Eye Trust Hospital and Mauritius Eye Hospital. The Mauritian side acknowledged the contribution of Dr. Wajid Ali Khan and his team of eye specialists for performing complicated eye surgeries in Mauritius on charitable basis for the last three years. Mauritius and Pakistan have many cultural commonalities. In view of the fact that Urdu language and Pakistani drama serials are largely appreciated by the Mauritians. In the margin of the JWG, the leader of the Mauritian delegation and the Ministry of Culture, Pakistan signed Cultural Exchange Program between Pakistan and Mauritius. This Program aims at facilitating the exchange of folk art, music, crafts, and cultural troupes.