SIALKOT: The Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has welcomed the proposal of establishment of inter-ministerial committee on exports competitiveness by the Ministry of Commerce.
SCCI President Maj (Rtd) Mansur Ahmed has highly appreciated the Ministry of Commerce’s this most-awaited initiative towards the promotion of exports’ sector which had seen a dip of 12.11 percent to $20.802 billion during the last fiscal year 2015-16 from $23.667 billion during the same period of the previous year.
SCCI has also formulated a Task Force headed by Dr. Nouman Idrees Butt (former SCCI President) to coordinate with the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) regarding the proposed initiative of establishment of inter-ministerial committee on Exports Competitiveness, in this regard.
On this occasion, SCCI’s Task Force Head Dr. Nouman Idrees Butt said that such positive steps were direly needed to boost the exports. He also mentioned that rationalizing tariffs and formulation of a simplified duty exemption scheme would be a welcoming gesture for the export industry in particular.
He revealed that this step of establishing inter-ministerial committee on Exports Competitiveness will go a long way to help promote the country’s exports which have been stagnant sine long.
“The proposal is an indication of government’s seriousness to put the economy back on track, which would boost the trust of not only local businessmen but would also give a good message to the foreign investors” he said.
Dr. Nouman Ides Butt urged the government to take the private sector on board and representation might be ensured in the Committee which was proposed to only include Additional Secretaries from Ministries of Commerce and Finance, Federal Board of Revenue and Board of investment by MOC. He said that representation of the Business Community was vital for implementation of recommendations by the committee in future.
Meanwhile, SCCI has pledged full support of the business community of Sialkot to the government in line with similar initiatives and proposals for the betterment of Export Sector of Pakistan.
SCCI President Maj (Rtd) Mansur Ahmed said that only export sector of Pakistan could stabilize and strengthen the economy of Pakistan and ensure prosperity in the country.
Sialkot based leading export tycoon Riazud Din Sheikh has also urged the federal government to materialize the formation of “Export Promotion Council” (EPC) as recently announced by the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
“Export Industry of Sialkot is committed to promote the Exports of Pakistan in line with the Vision 2025 of the government to increase national exports up to US$ 150 billion , as the Sialkot exporters need essential facilitation from the government and clear and consistent policies” Sheikh Riazud Din added.
