Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday that there was significant potential for trade between Pakistan and Sri Lanka particularly after the Free Trade Agreement 2005 became operational.

The Prime Minister was talking to Sri Lankan Secretary for External Affairs Mrs Kshenuka D. Senewiratune, who called on him at the Prime Ministers House.

He emphasized the importance of relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, particularly in the fields of trade and economy. "We need to address impediments and deepen bilateral economic relations between the two countries."

The Prime Minister said it was a matter of great satisfaction that the last session of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Joint Economic Commission had agreed to activate the four Joint Working Groups on Trade, Investment, Auto Sector and Customs cooperation.

Mrs Senewiratune said that Pakistan and Sri Lanka had always supported each other on various international fora. She also expressed the resolve that this cooperation in the realms of trade and investment would continue between the two countries in the future as well.

The meeting was also attended by Sri Lankan Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody, Sri Lankan High Commissioner and Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs.