Rs 24 million spent on 46 foreign tours of two commerce ministers

Two successive ministers for commerce have spent Rs 23.87 million on 46 foreign tours since June 2013; however, these tours were part of trade diplomacy and impact of such tours cannot be measured numerically and in short-term.
Minister for Commerce and Textile Muhammad Pervaiz Malik informed this to the National Assembly on Friday in a written response to a question during the Question Hour. Khurram Dastgir Khan was commerce minister in the cabinet of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and now Pervaiz Malik is serving as the commerce minister in the cabinet of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. Khan is now defense minister.
"Such tours are meant to further trade objectives, explore new markets and remove hurdles, if any, in the ongoing trade between Pakistan and foreign countries through trade diplomacy," the House was informed. The House was also informed that only the relevant officer(s) accompany the minister during his visits abroad and the expenditures of the accompanying officers are borne by their respective ministries / departments out of their regular budgets.
To another question, the House was informed that the exports of Pakistan, which had been decreasing for last three years, are now on recovery path. Exports have registered a double digit growth during the first half of financial year 2017-18. During last seven months, export have increased by 11.11 percent compared to the corresponding period of last year, the House was informed.
To another question, the House was informed that the US is the largest single destination for Pakistan's exports. Pakistan enjoys positive trade balance with the US. Pakistan and the US have not signed any PTA/FTA and trade is being conducted at the MFN basis. However, Pakistan is the beneficiary of preferential market access under GSP scheme of the USA.
The total bilateral trade during FY 2016-17 was recorded at around $6 billion, the House was informed. Minister for Foreign Affairs Khawaja Muhammad Asif informed the House through a written reply to a question that US President Donald Trump used very negative language against Pakistan in his tweet of January 1, 2018.
Immediately after the tweet, Pakistani leadership took exception to the negative tweet and the Prime Minister convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee on January 2, 2018 to review the security situation in the region. He informed the House that the NSC decided that despite negative tweet of President Trump, Pakistan's reaction would be measured one, as Pakistan believes that a functioning relationship with the US based on mutual respect and trust is in the interest of the region.
The National Security Committee of the Parliament also met on January 04, 2018 and reviewed the situation. The foreign minister briefed the members and took them into confidence.
The minister said that during the recent high-level engagements with the US including visit of Acting Assistant Secretary of State Alice G Wells in January 2018 and the visit of US National Security Council Senior Director Lisa Curtis on February 26, 2018, the foreign secretary forcefully raised the issue of President Trump's tweet.
The US side was informed that the negative language used by the US leadership was unacceptable to the government and people of Pakistan, he said, adding the unwarranted allegations by the US President belie the cooperative history of the relationship which served mutual interests in the region.
The minister said that it has also been communicated to the US that Pakistan has fought war against terrorism primarily out of it own resources and at a great cost to its economy. The huge sacrifices made by Pakistan including loss of thousands of Pakistani civilians and security personnel could not be trivialized behind an imagined monetary value.
Despite unwarranted allegations, Pakistan remains committed to the stability of region and supports all efforts towards an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process, he said, adding that people of Pakistan are prepared to defend their honor, sovereignty and territorial integrity of their beloved homeland.
To another question, the House was informed the total number of Pakistanis imprisoned in the jails of Spain is 177 at present. The most common charges are drug trafficking, financial fraud, robbery / theft and sexual assault.
An officer and an official of this Mission and Community Welfare Attaché in Consulate General of Pakistan, Barcelona, are especially deputed to give consular access to the Pakistani prisoners detained in different jails in Spain, the House was informed.
To another question, the House was informed that in line with the 1974 Protocol between Pakistan and India, Zaireen (pilgrims) from Pakistan travel regularly to participate in the Urs of Hazrat Khawaja Nizamuddin Aulia (RA). This year also 192 of Pakistani Zaireen applied for visas to visit India from January 1-8, 2018. However, the Indian side refused visas in violation of the 1974 Protocol. Pakistan has registered a strong protest against this decision.