Steps being taken to enhance exports: Iqbal

Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Friday reiterated the government’s firm commitment to the development of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and ensuring its successful implementation.

“We are taking all necessary steps to address the pressing issues and enhance the country’s exports, and we are grateful to China for its continued support in this regard,” the minister said while chairing a meeting to review progress on CPEC-related projects.

The meeting, according to a press statement, also discussed progress on Special Economic Zones (SEZs), ML-1, Karachi Circular Railway and various new development initiatives that would be discussed in the upcoming sittings of Joint Working Groups (JWG).

During the meeting, the planning minister underlined the importance of strengthening the country’s export sector, directing the quarters concerned to follow up on the prime minister’s proposal of seeking the help of Chinese professionals for the development of Pakistan’s export sector.

Iqbal said the top priority of the government’s 5Es agenda was to enhance exports and to ensure that Pakistan could benefit from China’s expertise.

He instructed officials to make SEZs a medium of enhancing exports, adding that the zones could foster collaboration and innovation, which could lead to the development of new products and services that were better suited to the demand of international markets.

The meeting also discussed proposals for the upcoming sittings of JWGs including the advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), solar projects and study on pumped storage hydropower projects.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2023.

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