ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) is likely to spend a huge sum of money on the establishment of infrastructure to facilitate exporters to meet the international standards.
As per policy guidelines prepared by the MoC in this regard, the Ministry would establish infrastructure like construction of cold storage, hot water treatment plants and other facilities at dry ports mainly from where perishable items are being exported. Cold storage can be constructed in cities like Sargodha, Multan, Okara and other cities, from where fruits, vegetables and other perishable goods are being exported right now. Funds can be spent out of money held with Export Development Fund (EDF) as well as Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) will be asked to step forward to extend services in this regard.
Initially, resources available with EDF and TDAP will be mobilised, however, if more funds are required then the Commerce Minister will ask Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the provision of required funds to complete the objective, the policy guidelines stated. It is pertinent to note here that these policy guidelines have been prepared in the wake of declining exports during last four months and main objective is to check on the continuous decline in the export.
An official source on anonymity condition, told this scribe here on Monday that Commerce Minister had been much worried on the current state of declining exports and had held several meetings with concerned stakeholders both inside the ministry and concerned departments.
“He also held meetings with heads of different sections related to foreign trade of the ministry and sought their opinion on the said subject,” the source said, adding that Minister directed them to hold brainstorming sessions to find out opportunities for halting the declining exports.
The source said that the Minister also directed heads of concerned departments to search out new markets in the wake of declining exports to Afghanistan as well as to devise a policy to attract new international customers for Pakistani products. In this regard, the source said that Ministry had been directed to work on war-footing so that gap between imports and exports could be reduced to the maximum possible level.
