Pakistan, Saudi Arabia agree to Establish Special Economic Ties
By Shoaib Jabbar 'Pakistan Times' Special Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have decided to establish special economic partnership for cooperation in Health, Education, Railway, Food & Agriculture, Religious Affairs, Science & Technology, Labor and Manpower, Tourism and Trade & Industry.

The agreement was made in the 8th session of the Pak-Saudi Joint Ministerial Commission headed by Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan and Minister of Commerce & Industry of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr. Hashim A. Yamani at the conference palace in Riyadh on Wednesday, says a message received here today.

Both the sides agreed to hold the 9th session of Saudi-Pakistan Joint Commission in Islamabad in 2008 on a date to be mutually decided after through consultation.

Both states noted that to balance the bilateral trade which is heavily in favor of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan offered export of ready-made garments, cotton products, engineering goods, consumer goods, Pharmaceutical, rice, textile fabrics, sports goods, and surgical instruments.

Both the sides expressed their hope to reach on agreement between GCC & Pakistan to create a free-trade area which covers trade in goods & services by the end of 2007.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia also agreed to arrange roads shows and exhibitions to showcase the products of both the countries, encourage business to business interaction and visa facilitation.

The Saudi government was requested to relax and rationalize their Standard requirements and duties on export from Pakistan and allow Pakistan private investment in the free re-export zone of Saudi Arabia,

Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in the field of manufacturing of medical/surgical equipment, which includes hospital supplies (Beds, Stretchers, Bedpans, Crutches, Walkers, and Wheel Chairs etc.) Pakistan offered free of cost training facilities for the Saudi doctors and nurses in the field of therapeutic and diagnostic services, neurosurgery, cardiovascular surgery and Pediatrics.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia also agreed for establishing academic linkage between Quaid-e-Azam University and National Institute of Science & Technical Education, Islamabad, with Saudi Arabia and exchange visits of academicians, scholars & teachers and exchange of printed material of education interests and to initiate joint programs, chalked out with mutual consultation, in the filed of emerging technologies such as VOIP, NGN (Next generation network), WLL (wireless local loop).

Pakistan offered training facilities to Saudi Railways personnel in various disciplines of railways and asked the Saudi side to identify the fields of their interest.

Pakistan side requested the Saudi Government to consider RAILCOP for the award of contracts for the development and maintenance of Saudi railway infrastructure on the basis of its past performance.

The Pakistan side highlighted the potential of Pakistan industrial sector in manufacturing of Sugar plants, Cement plants, Fertilizer Plants, Refineries and Construction material and offered its expertise to Saudi Government.

The Pakistan side also offered expertise of Small Enterprises group of companies for meeting import requirements of plant machinery and engineering goods of Saudi Arabia. Pakistan side handed over the list of goods and services, which can be exported by Pakistan State Engineering Corporation.

The Pakistan side also sought Saudi investment in Export Processing Zones of Pakistan for the establishment of export oriented industries where raw material could be imported from any source of world without any custom duty. The Saudi side showed deep interest for investment in the EPZs of Pakistan.

The Pakistan side identified the areas of Oil and Gas, Petroleum and Petrochemical, Power generation, textile manufacturing, Banking and Finance, Fertilizer, Livestock & Dairy production, IT & Telecom as prospective sectors for investments.

The Pakistan delegation requested for Saudi investment in the large breeding farms, milk collection and diary processing units, vaccine production and join ventures in cattle feed mills, meat production and processing, poultry production and processing units, animal health and vegetable processing units, Saudi side showed their interest for increased cooperation in the agriculture sector.

The Pakistan side also offered consultancy services for horticulture development, land-scaping and diagnostic field surveys. The Saudi side took note of the offer.

Both the sides also discussed the potential for organizing cooperation in the field of science and technology and noted that early notification of the agreement by the Saudi Government would pave the way for enhanced cooperation in this field. The Pakistan side requested the Saudi side to propose their members on the Joint: Committee on Science and Technological Cooperation.

The Pakistan side requested the Saudi delegation for preferential treatment of Pakistani labor seeking employment in the Kingdom and grant of pardon to all such Pakistani prisoners who are detained in Saudi Jails for minor crimes having the punishment of less than two years.

The Pakistani delegation also requested for extension in the deadline for grant of visas on manual passport up-to the year 2010 and waving off the condition of valid power of attorney for overseas employment promoters from Saudi recruiting agencies.

Both the sides agreed to exchange tourism information/statistics, publications, publicity material, development and marketing plans for mutual benefit for further promotion of cooperation between the two countries in the cultural and tourism spheres.

Both the sides noted that social fibre of both the countries is conducive for the educational and professional pursuits of women. The Pakistan side asked the Saudi delegation to encourage Saudi women to attend educational institutes in Pakistan and likewise Pakistani women may be given equal opportunities of employment in the Kingdom.●