Improvements to collaboration between the banking industries of China and Pakistan became effective forthwith following ratification, issued by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOC), according to a report received here Friday.

The banking service protocol of the service trade agreement for the free trade area (FTA) between the two countries was signed in April when President Xi Jinping visited Pakistan.

It will improve the liberalization of the service trade of China-Pakistan FTA, with easier financing for enterprises and ensuring the smooth running of major governmental projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the MOC said.