ISLAMABAD: Commerce Ministry on Tuesday issued SRO allowing export of surgical and N-95/K-95 masks with strict monitoring of its availability in the domestic market by a committee.
Ministry of Commerce had imposed ban on the export of various personal protective equipment (PPE) items due to Covid-19 on the recommendation of Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination (MNHSR&C) on March 24, 2020. However, subsequently the business community started approaching Ministries of Commerce and MNHSR& C with the plea that local manufacturers of PPEs were producing these items at full capacity resulting in inventory surplus. Therefore, they requested to allow them to export the surplus PPE items against confirmed international orders. Subsequently, on a summary moved by MoC, the Cabinet in its meeting held on June 2, 2020 decided to lift ban on export of PPE items except on surgical masks, N-95 masks and Tyvek suits. The cabinet also constituted a committee to monitor the stockpile situation of PPEs in the country. Decisions of the Cabinet were promulgated vide SRO 526(l)/2020 dated 9th June, 2020 and notification of committee on June 10, 2020.
The committee constituted by the cabinet has so far held four meetings. During the fourth meeting held on July 29, 2020, the committee took a detailed review of the monthly stock position of PPEs submitted by National & Provincial Disaster Management Authorities along with national needs submitted by MNHSR&C. The committee also took note of data provided by MoS&T and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) with respect to the locally manufactured production capacity of the banned PPE items (surgical masks, N95 masks & Tyvek Suits). The committee agreed that "based on the data provided by MoS& T, MNHSR&C and TDAP, - MoC will move a summary for the cabinet for lifting the ban on export of surgical masks and N95/K95 masks.
Section 3(1) of the Imports and 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 The requirement of rule-8 of the rules of Business, 1973, in respect of the matter, gets fulfilled as the relevant Ministries /Divisions and Organizations, i.e. Ministries of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination, Science & Technology and Industries & Production have been represented in the committee constituted by the cabinet to monitor the stockpile situation of the PPEs in the country.
Commerce Ministry had proposed that on the recommendation of the committee constituted by the cabinet, the export of surgical masks and N-95/K-95 masks may be allowed. However, the committee will continue to meet regularly and monitor the stocks of all the PPEs and if there is a need it will immediately recommend a ban on the export of the specified PPE items. "The notification for export of surgical, N/ KN-95 masks is out. I believe demand is still high, so exporters should pursue it aggressively. I hope we will get our due share of the world market," said, Commerce Advisor, Abdul Razak Dawood, in a tweet.