Despite government approval to export personal protective equipment (PPEs), Pakistan will not export surgical masks, N-95 and Tyvek gowns informed Advisor on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood on Friday.

Briefing the Senate, the advisor informed that Pakistan has got orders for the export of personal protective equipment against coronavirus.

A Federal Cabinet meeting on Tuesday gave its approval to the export of locally-manufactured personal protective equipment (PPEs), sanitizers, and other things. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, also decided that a committee comprising members from ministries of commerce, health, industrial production, and science and technologies will be authorized to ban the export of any particular item keeping in view the domestic needs of the country.

The Advisor said that the country’s fruits, vegetables, meat, and poultry exports to the Middle Eastern countries grew by 36pc over the last twelve months.

Dawood said Pakistan enjoys close and cordial relations with Turkey and the ministry is negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with Turkey to promote trade relations.