KUALA LUMPUR: Pakistan’s exports to Malaysia have witnessed an upsurge of 155 per cent during the first quarter of the current year over corresponding period last year, with bilateral trade registering a growth of 18.3 per cent, an official said on Thursday.

In monitory terms, the total exports touched 251.19 million ringgits against 98.5 million ringgits during the first quarter of 2009, said Dr Imtiaz A Kazi, Acting High Commissioner for Pakistan at a press conference.

He said that the unprecedented increase in bilateral trade clearly reflects the growing business and trade ties between the two countries and is the outcome of Free Trade Agreement signed between the two countries in November 2007.

The trade potential between Pakistan and Malaysia is far more than the existing volume and urged the traders and businessmen of the two countries to take full advantage of reduced duties and tariffs for a multifold increase.

Dr Kazi said that Halal sector contributed the major part of Pakistan’s exports.

Rice registered an unprecedented increase of 468.3 per cent.

Potato registered an increase of 18.98 per cent and onions export registered an increase of 12,000 per cent. News