ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Advisor on Commerce and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood said on Friday Pakistan intended to start negotiations on Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) which will expire in June next year.
He was replying to questions raised at a meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Commerce under the chairmanship of Senator Mirza Muhammad Afridi.
"As the trade pact with Afghanistan is expiring next June, we want to start parleys with Kabul prior to its expiry. Pakistan wants to enhance bilateral trade with Afghanistan," he added.
Dawood said there were lots of issues in transit trade with Afghanistan, adding that a meeting was held with Director General Military (Operations) and Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) to formulate an interactive strategy.
"Trade with Afghanistan under transit and bilateral agreement is stopped. The goods landed at the ports have to be cleared. Anti-corona SOPs are being softened at borders to clear stuck-up goods," he added.
Dawood further informed the committee that Afghanistan had been allowed to send its goods to India through Wagha border but Afghan trucks would return empty. He said Afghan ambassador had invited him to visit Kabul which would be next month.
Abdul Razak Dawood said that Geographical Indications(GI) law would protect products like Peshawari Chappals, Multani Blue Pottery, Hunza apricots, Hala Ajrak, Kasuri Methi, Chamman grapes, Turbat dates etc.
"Our policy will be to get premium prices for our indigenous products in international market," he said, adding the parliamentarians appreciated coordination between the Parliament and Ministry of Commerce to get GI law approved.
Chairman Standing Committee suggested that cargo airline should be introduced under the Ministry of Postal Services to facilitate Pakistani businessmen who are facing logistic problems. He was of the view that there was cushion of $4 billion in logistic business whereas associated infrastructure of $1 billion is available in Pakistan. Razak Dawood agreed to the proposal of the chairman and assured him that he would look into his proposal at the Ministry level.
Standing Committee's Chairman also proposed that both the draft Strategic Trade Policy Framework 2020-25 and Textile Policy should be shared with the business community so that value addition sectors could be given maximum facilities. He was of the view that with reduction in duties on local industries, foreign investors could be attracted which would be instrumental in increasing trade and availability of skilled manpower. He further recommended that duty on polyester should be removed to make textile sector more efficient and increase exports.
Senator Zeshan Khanzada was of the view that with reduction in duties on raw materials and goods, better results could be achieved.
The committee also discussed performance of trade officers appointed in Pakistani Missions abroad.
The committee was informed that in foreign countries especially in developed countries there was a trend of easy-to-wear dresses and if Pakistan focused on such kind of garments, exports could be increased by $4 billion.
Secretary Commerce Saleh Farooqi informed the committee that Commerce Ministry had already taken a number of steps in that regard, adding that after a very long time 25 percent increase had been budgeted for TDAP.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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