Pakistan to export sanitizers but no N95 masks in wake of COVID-19

• The approval is only for normal textile masks and does not include N95 masks and surgical masks.

The National Command and Control Centre (NCOC) have approved the export of sanitizers and textile masks, informed Advisor to Prime Minister for Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood on Thursday.

In a series of tweets, the advisor informed that the approval is only for normal textile masks, and does not include N95 masks and surgical masks. The advisor added that the necessary documentation and details will be issued in the next few days so manufacturers and exporters need to prepare themselves.

“We have to think strategically for the after lockdown scenario. I request businessmen to think of changing their product mix, geographical spread and going into new lines of business. This has to be our sustainable growth strategy,” he said while urging the business community forward their suggestions to the Ministry of Commerce.

The advisor earlier cautioned that Pakistan's economic condition is very critical due to the spread of COVID-19 and forecasts of the World Bank and the IMF indicate a dismal economic scenario. “We will sit in the Ministry of Finance to discuss and analyze the projections of both the IMF and World Bank but one thing is for sure that situation for Pakistan is critical," he added.