Trade Policy: ‘Govt inaction holding back exports’

KARACHI: Pakistan needs to export goods worth $150 billion in the next 10 years for sustainable economic growth, but the government has repeatedly failed to introduce the requisite measures, said Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Standing Committee former chairman Ahmad Jawad. Pakistan’s exports currently hover around the $25-billion mark per year. “It is unfortunate that the commerce ministry has failed to introduce the much delayed Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF), which might improve Pakistan’s balance of payments position,” he said in a statement on Friday. He added that he thinks the federal budget, trade policy and Vision 2025 have no connectivity and commonalities to boost exports. “The government has withheld billions of refunds, duty drawback and other payments that are not only hurting the exporters but also small and medium enterprises (SMEs).”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2016.

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