Comprehensive plan needed to boost export: KCCI President

N H ZUBERI

KARACHI: Newly elected President of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Mian Abrar Ahmad has emphasised the need of preparing a comprehensive plan to boost export of agriculture, textile, engineering and other products.

He said that the country's dream to achiever 50 billion dollar export target by the year 2015 may come true if a strong strategy is adopted.

He also cited the example of Vietnam, which fought a 10-year long war with USA and had no foreign exchange reserves at that time but now its exports have crossed 70 billion dollars due to its strong plan of action. When Vietnam can achieve this target why not Pakistan, as the target is achievable, he emphasised.

Abrar Ahmad emphasised the need of making efforts to boost regional trade, as current trade among SAARC countries is less than 5 percent of the total trade whereas countries falling within European Union have huge trade of around 85 percent.

Referring to the prevailing law and order situation and the ongoing loadshedding in Karachi, he said that carrying out commercial activities under these conditions is beyond imagination.

He urged the government to adopt measures on war footing to resolve the issue of power crisis.

Regarding senior Commerce Minister Mahkhdoom Amin Fahim's visit to India, he said expressed the hope that the visit would prove to be a breakthrough to boost bilateral trade between the two countries.

He said that India has already granted MFN status to Pakistan and Pakistan should also give the same status to the neighbouring country.