LAHORE: Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) Monday urged the Federal Commerce Minister to finalise Trade Policy document in the light of business community suggestions and proposals to make it more meaningful and acceptable to the stakeholders.
PIAF Chairman Engineer Sohail Lashari said here that new policy should have certain achievable targets and realistic objectives.
The industrial production would remain sluggish and all the targets of Trade Policy would remain unfulfilled unless and until measures were not taken to ensure availability of cheaper electricity and continuous supply of gas to keep industrial wheel on the move, he added.
Lashari said the government should concentrate on increasing the hydel component in the electricity generation, as thermal power was very costly and also adding up to the oil import bill.
He also stressed the need for construction of Kalabagh Dam, citing that a lot of money had already been spent on this mega project.
The PIAF Chairman said the upcoming trade policy must focus on promoting exports of non-traditional items as concentration on a few items and on few countries was also hitting the country's economy hard. Auto-parts, handicrafts, precious stones, herbal medicines and fruits have huge potential in South East Asia, Far East and African region, he added.
He said that textile sector makes more than 65 percent of total export earnings despite the fact that Pakistan produces excellent quality fruit & vegetables, Halal meat, auto-parts, confectionary items, sports goods and medical equipment etc.
The business community was ready to supplement all government efforts aimed at enhancing the exports but without due consultation of real stakeholders even the easiest targets become harder.
Lashari said the delegations organized by the Trade Development Authority Pakistan (TDAP) should be prepared in close consultation with chambers of commerce and industry to ensure greater representation of private sector at international trading events such as trade fairs and single-country exhibitions that play a vital role to enhance the exports.
He said embassies of neighbouring countries were playing an active role in promoting trade diplomacy all around the globe in close liaison with their trade supporting organizations.
The commercial sections of these embassies were found proactive and the commercial envoys remain busy in studying the international market trends, he maintained.
Lashari said that due focus on exports could revive the economy in shortest possible time, therefore, the government should appoint only those people as Commercial Attaches who have some business experience as well.
He also appreciated the government decision to allow import of only three-year old vehicles.
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