On Monday, Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce informed a Senate Standing Committee on Commerce that Sri Lankan authorities were uncooperative, suggesting the issue now needs to be addressed at the political level.

Senator Anusha Rahman of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chaired the meeting. Initially, ministry officials implied the dispute resolution forum was effective but later admitted Sri Lanka’s lack of cooperation.

“We have friendly relations with Sri Lanka and want to amicably resolve the trade disputes,” said Pakistan’s Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal.