KARACHI: The local business community has lauded the government for announcing trade policy and called it an encouraging step for the traders in prevailing circumstances.
Lasbela Chamber of Commerce & Industry President Maqsood Ismail said that the exporters would make their utmost efforts to achieve export target of $35b by 2018. He said that export target can be achieved if refunds to the tune of Rs 210b are released, tax system is simplified and uninterrupted supply of electricity and gas should also be ensured. He said the problems faced by the export sector should be resolved so that their cost of doing business can come down to make their products competitive in the international market.
Moreover, he said, Pakistan should explore new markets with special focus on Iran and Afghanistan as Pakistan can export rice, beef and other things worth $1 billion while exports to Afghanistan can be increased by 50 per cent.
Maqsood said that value-added sector should be given priority in every incentive. He also called for facilitating the remote industrial zones like Hub Industrial Estate as they are providing employment to the unskilled labour of Balochistan. He lauded the government’s move to provide Rs20 billion to exporters over a period of three years.
