ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet which is scheduled to meet on Wednesday (Sept 9) with Finance Advisor in the chair, will impose ban on export of potatoes with immediate effect and till December 31, 2020 as prices have reached Rs 100 per kg in some parts of the country.
The Ministry of National Food Security and Research has proposed a complete ban on the export of potato with effect from August 16, till December 31, 2020.
Giving the reason for the proposed ban, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research has argued that about 96 per cent of total produce of potato comes from Punjab and during the FY20 the total area under potato cultivation stood at 440,000 acres while total production remained 4,381,470 tons, with a declining trend of 2.62 per cent and 6.61 percent over the previous FY, respectively.
The sources said, Federal Cabinet in its meeting on April 28, 2020 decided to put an immediate ban on the export of "all edible items which are consumed by common man." The decision was salient about the specific edible/food products to be banned.
Section 3(1) of the Import of Exports (Control) Act, 1950 empowers the Federal Government to prohibit, restrict or otherwise control the import into and export from Pakistan of any good or class of goods.
Commerce Ministry has solicited ECC permission to impose ban on export of potato till December 31, 2020 as proposed by Ministry of National Food Security and Research. However, the export of shipments of potato in the pipeline with confirmed L/C/, B/L or airway bill should be exempted from the proposed ban.
The ECC will also constitute a 12 member advisory committee including representatives from GHQ and the NAB for the release of unsold spectrums for the next generation of mobile services.
The committee will examine and evaluate the market assessment report and recommendations of the PTA for release of maximum next generation mobile services spectrum in Pakistan. The committee will also examine and finalize policy directives for the federal government for release of NGMS spectrum in Pakistan. The committee will oversee the release process to be conducted by the PTA.
The participation of representatives of GHQ and the NAB has been proposed to avoid subsequent issues and build confidence of the public and private sector stakeholders aimed at avoiding previous complications and investigations.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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