Pakistan and China launch a new initiative over the exports front

Pakistan and China launch a new initiative over the exports front

*ISLAMABAD - A new all-cargo air service has been launched between Lahore and Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province.*

As per *Xinhua*, a Boeing B757-200F aircraft carrying nearly 20 tonnes of garment, electric appliances and construction materials, took off from Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport on Tuesday, marking the opening of the first regular international all-cargo air route in Gansu.

The round-trip service is scheduled twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays.

The new service is a measure taken by Lanzhou to build itself into distribution center for international air cargo in northwestern China, said Luo Zhe, deputy director of the administrative committee of International Land Port of Gansu (Lanzhou).

Just days ago, the second phase of China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement came into the effect on Sunday allowing the Pakistani manufacturers and traders to export around 313 new products on zero duty to the Chinese market.

Both Pakistan and China signed a protocol for the implementation of the agreement during the last visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to China, under which, Pakistan has got the export concession on 313 new items.

Pakistan already enjoys zero duty on export of 724 products to China under the first FTA signed between the two countries in 2006. After the implementation of the second FTA, Pakistan has been allowed to export a total of 1047 products to China on zero duty.