Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce, Textile, Industries, Production and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood has said safeguarding the interest of Pakistani businessmen is the top priority of current PTI-led government. Dawood also stressed that Pakistan needs to evolve strategies for import substitution and called upon the citizens to encourage the 'make in Pakistan' sentiment.
He was addressing a consultative session on the Trade Opportunities in USA, China and Indonesia and the second round of Pak-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) here, the other day. The seminar was organized by Ministry of Commerce at a local hotel. Razak said no market access initiative will be pursued without the consultations of the businessmen.
The Adviser to the PM said all the chambers and associations have been invited time and again for consultations. The ministry has record of those consultations. All the requests received so far have been accommodated. Mentioning the second round of Pak-China FTA he stated that a lot of homework has been done for negotiations so that the commercial interest of Pakistani businesses is properly protected. He expressed his satisfaction over the level of preparation from the Pakistani side.
Regarding the opportunities arising out of the revocation of USA GSP status from India and Turkey and the implementation of the unilateral concessions granted by Indonesia, the adviser stressed upon the participants to gear up and not let this window of opportunity slip past. The representatives from Chambers Associations and academia appreciated the pro business agenda of the current regime. They reiterated their resolve to complement the export enhancement agenda of the current government.