ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Bilal Azhar Kayani on Tuesday informed the National Assembly that the government would continue the Export Facilitation Scheme (EFS) while taking measures to prevent its misuse, protect local industry and promote exports.
Responding to a point of order, the minister said the government had conducted a detailed review of the scheme, which allows exporters to import raw materials and other essential inputs required for export production without paying duties.
He acknowledged that the scheme had been misused in some cases in the past, prompting the government to introduce corrective measures.
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However, he said past misuse did not mean that the government should discontinue the scheme, which was important for exports, or further reduce the number of items covered under it.
The minister said the government was consulting all relevant sectors of the textile industry, including the All-Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), local loom operators, garment manufacturers and other exporters.
He added that the government was working with all stakeholders to introduce measures to eliminate the possibility of misuse. These efforts would continue in the future, he said.
Bilal Azhar Kayani made it clear that the government would retain the EFS because of its importance to Pakistan’s exports. At the same time, he said, concerns about protecting local industry and preventing misuse that could harm domestic production would be addressed.
He said the government wanted to ensure that exporters had access to quality raw materials and other essential inputs at reasonable prices. This would help Pakistani products remain competitive in international markets and support export growth.
The minister added that the government would continue working with relevant sectors to strike a balance between promoting exports, protecting local industry and ensuring the transparent use of the scheme.
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