ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Commerce has devised a comprehensive policy to monitor the performance of commercial attaches and trade officers appointed in different countries in the world. In this regard, performance sheets of different officers are prepared in result of video conferences on monthly basis.
Under this policy, nonperforming or officers with bad performance will be called back and efficient and active officers will be deployed as commercial attaches or commercial officers to enhance national exports and trade volume with different countries.
In this regard, cases of a few nonperforming commercial officers have been moved to the competent authority for appropriate disciplinary action against them” these disclosures were made by Secretary Commerce while briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Commerce and Industry here.
Muhammad Younis Dagha, further said that Ministry of Commerce was quite cognizant of the importance and significance of performance of trade officers therefore the said policy had been devised after long and detailed discussions with the all the stakeholders especially with exporters as well as Pakistani diaspora in different countries. Moreover, he said that disciplinary measures proposed against the nonperforming officers had also been finalized in the consultation with exporters keeping their problems and hardships in view.
“Furthermore, in a bid to have more credible and updated data collection about the imports and exports, Ministry of Commerce is also establishing an online electronic link with Pakistan Customs (PC) Pakistan Bureau Statics (PBS), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)” he said adding that state of the art Trade Institute was being established in Peshawar; however, investment portfolio of the country would have to be raised to enhance national productive capacity. He proposed that E-Commerce should be declared as compulsory subject at school, college and university level.
The committee suggested the constitution of a joint task force to maintain correct and updated imports and exports data because data of both PBS and SBP often did not match with each other. Moreover, Chairman Committee Shibli Faraz stressed on formation of national trade policy in consultation with all the stakeholders especially exporters, importers as well as chambers of commerce and industry.