Research & Initiatives

Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) through Pakistan is frequently a bone of contention between the two countries. Afghanistan complains that Pakistan is a major obstacle to transit trade with frequent changes in rules.

Following the PBC’s previous studies on the Pakistan-China Free Trade Agreement, there has been great discourse on how Phase II should be negotiated.

The 2015 Study had clearly shown that signing a FTA with Thailand was not in Pakistan’s interest; and the findings of this Study reinforce that conclusion in the light of updated data.

Pakistan and Turkey are not each other’s major trading partners, nevertheless, Pakistan’s trade with Turkey as a percentage of Pakistan’s global trade is higher than vice versa.

The Pakistan Business Council (PBC) notes the Ministry of Commerce’s ambition to enhance exports, as embodied in the recently issued Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF) 201518.

In August 2015 Pakistan and Thailand decided on the Terms of Reference and framework for a free trade agreement during a two-day visit of a Thai delegation to Pakistan.

A well thought-out and a well-negotiated Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Pakistan and Turkey can potentially increase bilateral trade in the near term to $5,000 million from the current level of $584 million.

The Malaysia Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) formally known as - The Malaysia Pakistan Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (MPCEPA) came into effect in 2008.

India granted MFN status to Pakistan in 1996. SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Agreement) came into force in 2006, resulting in tariff concessions by both India and Pakistan.

Pakistan’s GSP+ status under the European Union’s (EU) new Generalised Scheme of Preferences came into effect as of 1 January 2014.

Afghanistan and Pakistan signed a new transit trade agreement, Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA), in 2010 to cover the movement of Afghanistan’s external trade through Pakistan.

The Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement was signed in July 2002. Trade between Pakistan and Sri Lanka has shown lackluster growth since the FTA’s inception.

The Pakistan-Indonesia Preferential Trade Agreement was signed in February 2012.

Pakistan’s exports to Canada in 2013 were $233.91 million, while imports came up $121.72 million, making bilateral trade in 2013 add up to $355.63 million..

The Pakistan Business Council (PBC) is a business policy advocacy forum, representing private-sector businesses that have substantial investments in Pakistan’s...