ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed the Ministry of Commerce to take concrete measures to enhance volume of exports.
Sources told Customs Today that about six months ago, the ministry had moved a package of proposals to the Prime Minister’s House to increase the volume of exports under the Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF) 2015-18.
In this regard, MoC moved a package of concrete measures which included mobilization of foreign trade wing for services in the Ministry of Commerce, activation of Services Trade Development Council and set up a special task force for the development of E-commerce to enhance the share of services’ sector’s exports.
Presently, services sector contributes 54 percent to the economy but export of services of Pakistan is very low. Our services exports stood at $5 billion in 2011-12 whereas the global trade in services was $18.2 trillion.
The package also includes a number of measures for Revamping Export Promotion Agencies (EPAs) and Trade Monitoring Committee because EPAs are under-resourced and not tuned to modern challenges of export promotion.
Therefore, MoC has proposed overhaul trade offices abroad by providing both financial and improved human resource after carrying out a performance analysis. Trade Officer and local based Trade Development Officer (TDO) will spend 15 days in Pakistan to work closely with supply side institutions and exporting firms.
Performance Evaluation Report of Trade Officer will be jointly initiated by the ambassador and regional trade officer and countersigned by Secretary TDAP and second countersigning by Secretary Commerce. In countries where there is a single trade officer, the PER will be initiated by an overall regional trade office which is proposed to be established to complement the regional dimension.
Realizing that trade offices abroad do not work in isolation as their performance also depends on the performance of the institutions like TDAP, Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC). The Commerce ministry will develop and implement an entity improvement plan for both the organizations.
