Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the Ministry of Commerce and other relevant departments to take practical steps to achieve the export target of $60 billion in the next three years.
Chairing a meeting of National Export Development Board in Islamabad, the premier asked the commerce ministry to finalise the policy proposals in this regard in collaboration with the sectors having export potential.
He emphasised the need for research and development, innovation, and brand development to make Pakistani products unique and enhance their exports.
PM Shehbaz directed the Ministry of Power to present a comprehensive plan to reduce the power tariff for industries.
The prime minister also directed the trade officers in Pakistani embassies across the world to play their role in the promotion of Pakistani exports.
He said that the country’s exports crossed the $30 billion mark during the previous fiscal year, and the government’s policies also took the IT exports to over $3.2 billion.
PM Shehbaz directed that the problems identified by the exporters should be solved and a report be submitted to him in the next two weeks.
Highlighting the significance of the private sector in the development of any country, he said they should be made part of policy formulation process to solve their problems.
The prime minister said that the Ministry of National Food Security should work with provinces for bringing improvement in extension services in order to increase agricultural exports. He said steps should be accelerated to introduce varieties of high yielding seeds.
PM Shehbaz called for reducing the delivery time of Pakistani goods to Europe and America by immediately solving the problems related to the shipping of exports.
He said that the ministry of commerce should ensure cooperation with the Investment Board for the transfer of Chinese export industries to Pakistan.
The prime minister warned against any delay by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in refunds to the exporters, besides emphasising the trade officers in Pakistan’s missions abroad to promote Pakistan’s exports and for guiding the exporters.
The representatives of the export sector appreciated the prime minister for his frequent meetings to resolve their problems and called his keen interest in the export sector “very encouraging”.
They also appreciated the prime minister’s initiative to ensure timely refunds by the FBR to the export industry.