ISLAMABAD: The government is set to amend the Anti-Dumping Duties Act, 2015, to align it with international best practices, in line with the Prime Minister’s reform agenda aimed at legal restructuring and modernisation of the National Tariff Commission (NTC), well-informed sources told Business Recorder.
The Ministry of Commerce informed the Cabinet Committee for Disposal of Legislative Cases (CCLC) that the NTC established under the NTC Act, 2015, serves as Pakistan’s statutory trade remedies authority. It is mandated to conduct quasi-judicial investigations into dumping, subsidised imports, and sudden surges in imports that harm domestic industry, and to advise the federal government on tariff reforms.
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The Ministry highlighted that with progressive tariff liberalisation under the National Tariff Policy (2025–30), along with Pakistan’s obligations under WTO agreements and various Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), structural and operational weaknesses in the existing legal and institutional framework of the NTC have become increasingly evident.
To address these challenges, two committees — one under the convenor-ship of Dr. Manzoor Ahmad and the other led by the Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination — were constituted to conduct a comprehensive review of NTC’s performance and propose its modernisation in line with international best practices.
Following detailed deliberations, both committees recommended wide-ranging legal and institutional reforms to strengthen the Commission’s operational, administrative, and quasi-judicial capacity. These reforms aim to ensure timely, efficient, and WTO-compliant implementation of trade remedy laws, while enhancing the Commission’s ability to provide effective advice to the government and industry on tariff-related matters.
Based on these recommendations, the Prime Minister approved a comprehensive restructuring plan for the NTC with strict timelines. The plan includes increasing the number of members to enable the formation of multiple benches for parallel proceedings, streamlining administrative functions, digitising processes, revising qualifications and appointment criteria, and introducing market-based salary packages to attract skilled professionals.
The proposed amendments also seek to streamline the substantive and procedural framework governing anti-dumping and safeguard investigations, enhancing transparency, due process, and operational efficiency in line with global standards.
The Ministry further informed the CCLC that, in consultation with the NTC, it had prepared draft amendments to the National Tariff Commission Act, 2015, the Anti-Dumping Duties Act, 2015, and the Safeguard Measures Ordinance, 2002. The Law and Justice Division has already vetted these draft bills.
Accordingly, the Ministry sought the CCLC’s approval for the draft National Tariff Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Anti-Dumping Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Safeguard Measures (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to proceed with obtaining parliamentary approval.
During the meeting, the CCLC reviewed the proposed amendments to the Anti-Dumping Duties Act, 2015, in detail and recommended several changes, directing the Law and Justice Division to incorporate these revisions into the draft Anti-Dumping Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2026 before its submission to the Cabinet.
However, about the draft National Tariff Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Safeguard Measures (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Committee directed the Ministry of Commerce to resubmit them separately for consideration in its next meeting.
Following detailed deliberations, the CCLC approved the proposed amendments to the Anti-Dumping Duties Act, 2015, subject to the incorporation of its recommended changes by the Law and Justice Division prior to submission to the Cabinet.
The Committee also directed the Ministry of Commerce to present fresh summaries regarding amendments to the National Tariff Commission Act, 2015, and the Safeguard Measures Ordinance, 2002, for further consideration.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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