Pakistan reconnecting with world, says Dastgir

CPEC, TAPI and FTAs will help country expand and secure trade ties

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has almost overcome the challenges of extremism and energy crisis and is stabilising economically, said Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir.

“All international rating agencies and institutes have termed the country’s economy as positive to stable,” he said, while addressing the fourth session of the ‘Pakistan Investment Conference’ named “Investment in Textiles, Garments and other Industries to Boost Exports.”



“Pakistan is also re-establishing its connectivity with the rest of the world after a decade of unrest in the country. Under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the country would be connected with China and five Central Asian energy-rich states, which would benefit regional and global trade,” he added.

He further informed that work on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline would commence next month, while the Free Trade Agreement-2 (FTA-2) was also under negotiation with China.

“The government recognises the importance of inter-regional connectivity. Pakistan is not only a vociferous proponent of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) facilitation agreement but it has also initiated necessary reforms to create a facilitating environment for trade,” Dastgir remarked.



He said Pakistan’s inclusion in the GSP Plus scheme had provided the much required impetus for both local and foreign investors. The country had also entered into multiple bilateral trading arrangements to integrate its economy with the region. 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2015.

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