LAHORE: Punjab Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha has said that due to international trade policies, imports have increased in developing countries like Pakistan. However, no progress has been made in the export sector of Pakistan due to which local industry is in crisis.
She said this while presiding over a meeting to review the arrangements for visit of World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General Roberto Azevedo. Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce president and WTO Chairman Jamil Naz, Deputy Secretary Ministry of Commerce Adnan Lodhi, PBIT Director Khuram Afzal Malik, PSIC Managing Director Bilal Ahmed Butt, Chief Economist of Planning and Development Dr Aman Ullah, Additional Secretary Agriculture Hussain Sardar and Basmati Growers Association President Ch Hamid Malhi also attended the meeting.
The meeting was aimed at reviewing the suggestions of stakeholders for preparation of presentation to be given to Roberto Azeveto. Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha said that the Punjab chief minister has constituted a committee led by provincial finance minister for consultation on the projects continuing in Punjab with the participation of the WTO. All the stakeholders, including Ministry of Commerce and Trade and Board of Investment have been given representation in the committee.
She said that the WTO is not only providing a platform to its member centuries for consultation regarding sale and purchase of goods and services but also playing an important role for promoting trade, eliminating disputes and reforming trade policy among them. She said that “we should formulate such trade policies with the assistance of WTO which could help develop local industry.”
Dr Pasha directed all stakeholders to point out such products in their respective sectors through the export of which foreign exchange can be earned. Chairman WTO said that before the arrival of DG WTO, it is necessary to review products coming up for competition with Pakistani products and what is difference between their prices so that we could improve our products.
