LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the government to sign Free Trade Agreements with the regional countries, Central Asian States, Middle States and African countries to boost the exports.
In a statement issued here, the LCCI President Sheikh Muhammad Arshad and Vice President Nasir Saeed said that Pakistani exports are at the lowest as compared to the other regional countries.
They said that Free Trade Agreements with the non-traditional countries to give a jumpstart to the national exports.
They said that Pakistani businessmen should adopt an aggressive marketing strategy to get their due share in the international market. Regional trade is another neglected area where due attention is direly needed. They said that despite having best quality, Pakistani merchandise are not finding their way to the most parts of the world just because of lack of aggressive marketing strategy.
They said that regional trade is another neglected area where we have to do a lot of work through public-private partnership.
They said that promotion of regional trade is a must to enhance exports which are showing a declining trend. They said that it is a matter of concern that our exports are going down at a time when our competitors are writing new stories of success in the global market.
We are still struggling to achieve our minimal export target despite having all resources to move forward while those countries are far ahead of us which were following our economic role model in the past”, the LCCI office-bearers said.
They stressed the need for developing regional, product specific and target oriented marketing strategy. They said that new markets and new products need to be explored to reduce country’s dependence on few commodities and countries. They said that Pakistan’s exports are highly concentrated in few items. Such concentration in few markets can also become a source for instability in export earnings.
Meanwhile executive committee of the Lahore Commerce and Industry Raja Adeel Ashfaq has demanded immediate gas supply restoration to Pakistan Steel Mills.
In a statement issued, Raja Adeel Ashfaq said that it is a matter of concern that Pakistan Steel Mills is completely closed because of unavailability of gas but concerned government functionaries in general and ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources is playing the role of silent spectators.
He said that policy markets should be well aware of the fact that Pakistan Steel Mills is not only a major source of steel products supply to the various domestic industries but is also has vital importance for defence industry. He said that closure of Pakistan Steel Mills is not only a national tragedy but could be very dangerous for the defence sector.
He said that due to closure of Pakistan Steel Mills, domestic industry is relying on imported hot rolled, cold rolled and galvanized steel etc and huge foreign exchange is being spent for this purpose.
“If gas is available for CNG sector and other industries of Sindh then why not for Pakistan Steel Mills”, he questioned.
He said that Pakistan Steel Mills could be operationalized through alternative fuels but it seems that some elements are busy to tarnish soft image of the present regime. He said that Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif should take notice of the situation and direct the authorities concerned for early restoration of gas supply to Pakistan Steel Mills.
