ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce will scrutinize the budgetary proposals relating to the Public Sector Development Program of the Ministry of Commerce and its attached departments for the fiscal year 2016-17 today.
Similarly, the committee will also discuss Pakistan’s bilateral trading arrangements with Afghanistan and Iran.
A well-placed source at Ministry of Commerce (MoC) told Customs Today that an important meeting has been convened to ponder over the burning issues related to the ministry.
The source said that total volume of PSDP of Ministry of Commerce and related departments was Rs 876.6 million in the current budget for the fiscal year 2015-16. An amount of Rs 351.285 million is fixed for purchase of equipments, furnishing, curriculum development and training of Pakistan School of Fashion Design, Lahore.
An amount of Rs 24.337 million has been allocated for restructuring of Pakistan Institute of Trade and Development (PITAD), Islamabad. Rs 500 million were fixed for up-gradation of Expo Centre Peshawar.
According to Chairman Committee the issue of measures taken by the MoC for promotion of exports will also come under discussion. On this issue, MoC had moved a brief to the committee secretariat which states that MoC had taken a number of steps for exports promotion.
These measures include the establishment of leather export promotion council, establishment of services export development council, strengthening women chamber of commerce, up-gradation of rice inspection labs, export promotion campaigns for agro-processed products as well as marketing development assistance for regional countries.
Similarly, on the issue of Pakistan’s bilateral trading arrangements with Afghanistan and Iran, the MoC is of the stance that it has been fully engaged with the relevant departments of either country for further easing trade activities.
A spokesperson to MoC, told Customs Today Ministry was making all out efforts to facilitate exporters and importers residing in bordering areas with Afghanistan and Iran. In this regard, MoC has supported barter trade system with Iranian traders as well as same currency deals with Afghan businessmen.
The spokesperson further revealed that NA committee had also sought full-fledged briefing on the Strategic Trade Policy Framework (SFPF) 2015-18. In this regard, MoC is of the view that draft of the said policy has been waiting for approval from the Prime Minister over last several months.
