Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar says negotiations on Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between Pakistan and the United States would be concluded in the next few weeks. "Negotiations on Free Trade Agreement will begin if the United States gives its consent in this respect," Akhtar told reporters yesterday. The commerce minister said negotiations on Trade and Investment Treaty were also in progress between the two countries. Akhtar said that the federal cabinet was due to take up the ratification of South Asian Free Agreement (SAFTA) in its upcoming meeting. He expressed the hope that the cabinet would approve the agreement after due consideration. He said his ministry would also be coming up with annual statement by the end of each fiscal year to assess the strength of domestic commerce.
