does anyone know whether Pakistan has yet signed a Free Trade Agreement with the US yet?

I know they have been talking about it for years.

Has not happened and you just have to take a look at their negotiations with other nations to see where our talks may be headed. Malaysia and South Korea have both run into sticking points with the US with regards to their FTA deals, mainly because the US is very demanding.

Mushy and co and have missed a trick here, they could have argued that the FTA was in the national interest of the US. after all, any Paksitani economic boom it results in, will reduce the number of unemployed people. People who are employed and have a stake in society, tend to care more about things like material goods and have less time for crackpot maulvis.

I thought Malaysia had concluded an FTA already with them?

6 years after 9/11, to not have done so is a failure. we have only 12 months till moron Bush leaves office. best to get it done by then, the democrats may decide against it as Hilary Clinton has a large indian lobby funding her.

something i would definitely recommend for all American manufacturing companies to come in and open their plants. I also think Lockheed Martin and Boeing should come in and start building their planes here, and Pakistani government should give incentives for them to be here and start their plants, particularly for the F-16's and if F-18's. It would make them huge business as it would save them on huge tax relief as well as benefits of no unions in Pakistan (correct me if I'm wrong). After all, we are fighting the WAR ON TERROR....a long long war...., who could be a greater friend to these American companies as us?

Right now, I know that Pakistani government gives 10% rebates on all exports that go from Pakistan. So basically if you export 1 million rupies worth of export, you can get a rebate from the Pakistani government for 100,000 rupies. Something all manufacturing companies can cash in on.

the only way to encourage this sort of FDI, is to firstly build a political lobby in the US, you have the Pakistani american public affairs committee or the Council for American Islamic Affairs. When you have a lobby these things become much easier politcially.

I doubt the defence companies will come here though, they tend to like to keep their technology a guarded secret.

FTA between Pakistan and Malaysia came into effect earlier this month.

is it good for us?? USA is huge econonmy!

I hope those of you who are supporting an FTA with America, aren't the same people who were supporting the development/acquisition of ICBM's by Pakistan.

Development of an ICBM of course, but Pakistan doesn't necessarily have to show case it to the whole world...

I was just about to say that.

if we have tariff free access to the US market, it would mean our products would have an unfair advantage over other countries in terms of price. e.g. clothes/cotton products.

it would mean a boost in our exports, and a chance for us eat up parts of the market held by otehr countries like India.

so yes its a huge bonus, but only if it is done in accordance with protecting our own industries from the US. The US has an interest in boosting our industry, and reducing unemployment so that less people are vulnerable to the ideology of the Taliban. Unemployed pioepl follow idiot village mullahs when they have no stake in society, when you have a job and are earning you (i.e. a stake in society) will have less interest to follow such fools.

Saamp, whats wrong with supporting both?

Whats the point of developing it then?

Do what Israel does... Everyone knows it has nukes and ballistic missiles, but no country can officially declare that it does because it can not be proven. Its the perfect deterrence.

This is all just plain and simple BS--US has no interest in this FTA!!

You know how many UN resolutions against Israel have been vetoed by the US/UK ? Nobody will do that for Pakistan.

the US interest is this....

they know the moajority of suicide bombers in Pakistan are illiterate and the product of poverty. I mean how many of them were educated and employed? The American interest lies in reducing the number of people who are likely to be taken in by the Taliban ideology. They have already spoken of this, but we need to push this further by urgin them to furnish us with the FTA. Long term it is to their benefit as our economy & literacy grows, it reduces the number of potential enemies they will face. This is a long term project not a short term one, its not unlike what the US did in both West Germany and Japan after world war 2. Although we have not been successful to push for a 'Marshall plan', we can at least try to push for this FTA.

When it comes to US national interest like this, both democrats and republicans have an interest in this, we just have to dress it up in the right manner for them.

US will do FTA with every small country.

The Chinese are hurting their deficit pretty badly.

Singapore has FTA with America. Malaysia has now, Thailand will join soon.

If we really are an MNNA (Major Non NATO Ally) of USA then the best way to prove it is by giving greater share of their markets to us.

The last thing I'd want is Pakistan being economically dependent on USA (and we are right now). They could pull the plug on Pakistan at any time, without hurting their own economy. You know that MNNA status is just for show, and that neither governments trust each other. US has important interests in the region, and they will use factors such FTA's to take advantage & manipulate other countries such as Pakistan.

China would (depending on the resolution).

Forget it...I think.

We should phase into industrial manufacturing in areas which could attract African & other poor consumers, so we can diversify our markets as well as export capabilities. With agriculture, we just need to find a "tiny crack" and smash it open...fact is; X-of the world needs food, Y-is produced, Z-have a limited budget and Pakistan can win in all those areas. The West is not a good place to be dealing/trading with...bread baskets that wield way too much political and economic power. Pakistan needs to look below its own level and start tapping into those markets and push the Big powers out of their monoply.

1) We need to satisfy our local issues...it is not a matter of earning $1 or $100 a day, but rather ensuring that each Pakistani has access to 3 proper meals; good health care, standardized education and opportunity. Give them the basics, and the rest is up to the individuals.

2) Export the surpluss - i.e. based on products the domestic field does not need - to the poorer countries...perhaps at below-market prices. Even though we would not get a high a profit as exporting to the West, at least we do get a profit - and we do sow the seeds of attractive markets in poorer states.

3) Diversify from agriculture...don't drop it. Keep the present agriculture industry - expand it if necessary...but we do need to enter manufacturing, R&D and other areas. Investment in green-technology - fuel cells, wind-mills, etc; invest in projects related to mass-infrastructure, low-cost housing....guys so much of the world is dirt poor and poorer than us - success lies down south...if it didn't, then the north wouldn't be sucking our blood right now.

We definitely need to improve the current agricultural industry. We can easily increase our production, through higher production per acre ratios, more efficient watering systems and more efficient farming machinery (along with a faster, more efficient means to transport those goods). Our production per acre is pathetic (there was an article on this some time ago), and that could/should be increased as soon as possible. Plus with more efficient watering systems we can water and farm more land. And then with more efficient tools we won't need as many farmers to farm the same amount of area. So many of our farmers will not need to keep their children on the farm (to help out), and so the children can go to school (plus the family will be making more money due to a higher production per acre ratio). Finally increasing the efficiency of transport (and storage) of these products will make sure that there is less waste, thus more money.

bro the reality of our economy is that we are already dependent on western markets for much of our foreign currency. we actually have a trade surplus with the US (we export more to them than they export to us), but if we want to build a larger more powerful economy, then this is the fast way to do it. When we have an unfair advantage through an FTA, the conomy will naturally make rapid strides, eventually our uindustry will be strong enough to move to take on other customers globally. But these things take time.

anyone hear the state of the union speech yesterday? Bush has asked congress to sign an FTA with Columbia, Panama & south korea. We should be top of the list, but because our Pakistani lobby has not been effective enough (due to lack of US Pakistanis helping them). We have a golden opportunity with the "war on terror" to give Pakistan a big boost that will last for a generation.

do any of the presidential contenders have a policy on the Pakistani FTA?

I don't think so at the moment. But McCain is really really pro-Pakistani. He wants to increase the aid that is coming to Pakistan, while most of the others either want to keep it the same or even lower it.

Herein lies the difficulty for many countries. This requires complete transparency and commitment from govt, philantrophists, financial organisations etc....

But that has proven to be such a difficult thing...because an illiterate, desperate population is a politician's dream.

Hence the need for strong apolitical conscious to offset the elites...deliberative governments, etc.

Precisely.

The right to vote for everyone is a silly idea for many developing countries. What should have been done is for there to be an ID card for voting. To get this ID card should require the passing of a literacy test.

Then you will achieve a reasonable democracy when the population is literate (and the population has a strong incentive to become literate). The ID card should also be the prerequisite for access to health. This way you can get full literacy within a couple of years....because there would be an insane amount of demand for education amongst the poor...all that is required is that the govt allow private schooling to flourish under a national monitoring framework.....and provide education vouchers according to need.

Literate people are more likely to elect better people, are less likely to be swayed by false promises and lies and also push for transparency. The politicians will in effect have to work for the people rather than the other way around.

The government also has to start spending more on education, otherwise that plan of yours will completely fail.

While voting should be the requirement for voting, every Pakistani has the right to voice their opinions. I think all provincian/terriorial power should be abolished and direct power be given to municipal districts. Personally I'd divide the current Pakistan into 100+ municipal districts with their executive cabinets AND a non-partisan citizen's assembly - i.e. local Senates - where members are chosen by respective communities. The system should be such that the popular party represent the district at the Federal level with the interests of the district at hand...and that the political party keeps the citizens in check to ensure that the interests of their communities are being met. Consensus and mandatory participation...a form of direct democracy at the local level. The government should enact a system that opens funds for infrastructure, education, health, etc, to the districts based on a fair criteria and consensus from citizen assemblies and final approval from the party.

Each district can have a number of seats at the Lower House/Parliament based on a population and central-administrative office site...i.e. a district with 4 central administrative offices (because of population) has 4 seats in Lower House...the winning party takes all seats, while 2nd party can have a membership in the citizen's assembly.

Each district can have 1 Upper House/Senate member to represent the interests of the district and state. Members appointed by a higher council and should be non-partisan/apolitical and be able to block lower house legislations with approval from a higher council and proper reasoning. The protection of the constitution, judiciary, military & and solidarity of the state be rested with the Senate. The Head of State can declare emergency and defacto the Senate will be the scruitiny machine of the emergency government.

interesting idea...though I'm not sure politicians would ever implement somehting sdo detrimental their own self interests, or something that would prove unpopoular amongst the poor masses.