PESHAWAR: Federal Minister for Commerce & Industries, Engineer Khurram Dastager Khan has said that the federal government would soon announce fresh incentive package for the war-torn Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to promote business activities and industrialization in the province.
This he said on Thursday during a meeting with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce & Industries, while Senator Ilyas Bilour, KPCCI President Fawad Ishaq, Vice President Iqbal Afridi and other members of the chamber and business community were also present on the occasion.
The Minister said that before the announcement of next fiscal budget the federal government will be interested to work on the fresh incentive package for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa rather to emphasizing on the previous financial incentives.
Brushing aside apprehension about diversion of Pak-China economic route, the Minister said the government didn’t make any change in the route, and it will be executed according to previous planned.
He sought the assistance from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan for early completion the mega trade-corridor project. He said the project has positive impact on transit and regional trade, which would be completed at all cost.
Similarly, he emphasized the establishment of trade-corridor at western-side to boost-up regional trade and economic activities with Afghanistan and Central Asian Republic (CAR) countries”, the Minister said. “Our government is also focusing to establish road-network across the country. He said: We have planned to establish Quetta-Chaman, Zub, and D.I.Khan route to enabling for access to regional-trade.
Responding to question of business community about equal distribution of hefty Export Development Fund (EDF), the Minister clarified that no prejudice was being made in extending of EDF and distributed base of performance and export basis across the country. He asked the chamber to come up with concrete proposal along with research/training base project, to get maximum share from export development fund.
“KP will get lion share in Export Development Fund, if it would present promising projects, the minister said. He viewed that there was no location disadvantage in Khyber Pakhtunkwha. He stressed the need for establishment of western trade corridor to bolster existing trade volume with neighboring Afghanistan and regional countries.
The Minister informed that the government has planned to establish port at Torkhum and Chaman, followed by in Ghulam Khan, which could helpful to give boost to trade and economic relations with Afghanistan and other countries.
Regarding the demand of granting MFN status to Afghanistan, he said the country wasn’t member of World Trade Organization (WTO), so it was impossible. He, however, said the incentives and facilitation could be extended to Afghanistan under the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA).
Commenting on reservation of community on Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA), the Minister assured that under the APTTA, the facility would be extended reciprocal basis. He expressed the hope that a trilateral transit trade agreement between Pakistan Afghanistan and Tajiksitan would soon finalized. He emphasized the need for discouraging illegal trade between Afghanistan and other Central Asian Republic countries. He said incumbent PML-N led federal government is being focused exploring investment and job opportunities by giving incentive and facilitation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in generally, and particularly rest of the country.
Responding to various queries of business community, the Minister said that the issue of Peshawar-Torkhum road would be taken up with relevant authorities, and demand of establishment of WeBoC system at Torkhum would be incorporated, he assured. Earlier, speaking on the occasion, KPCCI president Faud Ishaq explained in detail about various issues and problems being faced by business community in the province.
The leader of businessman forum, Senator Ilyas Ahmad Bilour also spoke on the occasion, highlighted the diversion of Pak-China economic corridor, and step-motherly attitude of Federal Ministry of Finance and Federal Board of Revenue, towards re-adddressal of grievances of the community.
