"The visit is very significant from our point of view and we expect positive outcomes from this visit," Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin said yesterday while briefing diplomatic correspondents on the upcoming visit.

"The PM's visit is not as the Saarc chairperson, it is entirely a bilateral one," he added.

Khaleda Zia last visited Pakistan on January 2004 to attend the 12th Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Summit.

Official sources said Dhaka would ask for duty-free access of 73 items under nine categories to Pakistani market and request Islamabad to ratify the Safta (South Asian Free Trade Area) agreement so that it comes into effect on schedule.

The foreign secretary said the issues of repatriation of stranded Pakistanis (so-called 'Biharis') and apportionment of assets of pre-independent Bangladesh would also be taken up during the official talks between the prime minister and her Pakistan counterpart Shaukat Aziz.

The official discussion between the two prime ministers scheduled to be held on February 13 would focus on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, communications, education and cultural sectors, he added.

The talks will be followed by signing of the three MoUs (Memorandum of Understanding) by Agriculture Research Council, Export Promotion Bureau and the Ministry of Tourism of the two countries.

Hemayetuddin said Khaleda Zia, current chairperson of Saarc, will also exchange views with Pakistani leaders on the implementation of the decisions taken at the 13th Saarc summit held in Dhaka in November last year.

The prime minister will call on Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and exchange views on bilateral, regional and international issues of common concern.

Replying to a question, Hemayetuddin said enhancing the volume of bilateral trade, which is in favour of Pakistan, will be a major focus of the talks. According to official statistics, in last fiscal year (2004-2005) Bangladesh imported Pakistan goods worth $138.63 million and exported $63 million.

When asked with what degree of importance Dhaka would raise the issue of repatriation of stranded Pakistanis, he said it would be taken up with the seriousness it demands.

On apportionment of pre-independence assets, Additional Secretary Touhid Hossain, who was present at the news briefing, said at least $200 million remains in a Pakistani bank, apart from other assets.

About bilateral FTA with Pakistan, Hemayetuddin said if the Pakistani side raises it, it would be discussed. "We are now studying the pros and cons of the Pakistani proposal," he added.

Asked about cooperation in combating terrorism, he said Bangladesh's position in war on terror is well known to the world. The two sides will exchange views on that.

The foreign secretary informed that during her stay, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia will visit a relief camp of earthquake victims near Islamabad.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will host a reception and banquet dinner on February 13 and President Musharraf will host a lunch on Feb 14 in honour of the Bangladesh premier.

Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan, Health and Family Welfare Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Agriculture Minister MK Anwar will be on the 43-member delegation that will accompany the prime minister.

Besides, a 32-member business delegation drawn from leading private sector industries will go with her.

The prime minister will return home on the night of Feb 14.