Businessmen demand easy regulations for exports

Exporters face difficulties due to complicated documentation process

PESHAWAR: The business community has demanded the simplification of complicated regulations and procedures for the documentation related to exports in order to help overcome the difficulties and give a further boost to Pakistan's exports to regional countries.

Speaking at an awareness seminar on "FX Operations and State Bank Online Portal", Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Acting President Shahid Hussain said traders and exporters were facing difficulties due to complicated regulations and lengthy documentation procedures, which adversely affected trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian countries.

The event was jointly organised by the SCCI and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday.

He went on to say that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) had locational disadvantages due to it being far from the port city. Therefore, he said, the rules should be simplified to ensure ease of doing business and promote trade activities.

He pointed out that the SCCI and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) had jointly established a business facilitation centre in the chamber premises in an attempt to resolve the issues faced by the business community under the "one-window operation".

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The SCCI acting chief hailed the government for its initiative to support ease of doing business. However, he stressed that efforts could be fruitful if flexibility was brought in the regulations and procedures related to exports.

He called for providing facilities to traders, exporters and importers under the one-window service.

Earlier speaking on the occasion, SBP Managing Director Banking Service Muhammad Ashraf said the improvement had gradually been seen in the country's foreign exchange reserves.

He said the FX Operations and Online Portal was a major initiative of the central bank, which was the need of the hour, adding that the programme would fully facilitate the business community and resolve their issues amicably.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2020.

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