ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s exports are continuously declining from last couple of years, an incentives package to boost the country’s exports is awaiting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s approval.
While addressing a press conference here on Monday, Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan said, “We have finalised the package and waiting for the prime minister to approve it,” The government had finalised a package, which would enhance the tumbling country’s exports, he added. Pakistan’s exports fell by nine percent to $4.7 billion during July-September period of the ongoing fiscal year (FY2016-17) from $5.1 billion of last year.
Dastgir said Pakistan could sign agreement for giving tax concession to the Chinese trucks under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passing through the country. He further said that recent tensions between Pakistan and India had not affected the existing trade level. The Indian government had not taken the decision on withdrawing Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status from Pakistan, he added.
The minister admitted that there were shortage of competent officers in the Ministry of Commerce and its attached departments. Some of the public organisation offered more incentives to the employees as against the Ministry of Commerce, which attracts the officials, he remarked.
He informed that National Tariff Commission (NTC) has become functional after the government has appointed its chairman and five members. The NTC, under the supervision of Qasim Niaz, would work for defending Pakistan’s trade and controlling the anti dumping duty issue, he added. He further said that the government had doubled the budget of the NTC two years back and would further increase it if the organisation required it.
