January-October 2014: exports to EU up by $1.08 billion due to GSP Plus status: Dastgir

Thanks to GSP Plus facility, Pakistan's exports to the European Union (EU) have increased by $1.08 billion during January-October 2014. This was stated by Federal Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir while addressing as chief guest a programme title 'Prime Minister's Vision 2025'jointly organised by chairmen and presidents of various business councils and forums here at a local hotel on Thursday night.
The minister said that since the country was granted GSP plus status by EU, there has been phenomenal growth particularly in exports of textiles, leather, footwear and plastic products. Pakistan's total exports to EU had increased to $6.38 billion during the first 10 months of FY2014 from $5.3 billion in the same period of FY2013. He said that the objective of Vision 2025 was to offer better opportunities for uplifting living standard to all Pakistanis irrespective of their creed, colour and faith. The minister while elaborating said that 'Vision 2025' was in fact 'Vision of People First.' "We are going to create a pluralistic society and democratic state for the people of Pakistan. This vision has been extracted from the fundamental thoughts of the founder of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
"We seek a society where everyone transforms his and her life; which can only be done through strengthening human and social capital," he added. "Energy crises and terrorism are the top most challenges, without tackling these we can not even think of moving forward in the competing world. Both issues are constrains for the social development and economic stability of the country. Restoration of peaceful environment and availability of adequate energy are deadly needed to attract both foreign and local investment in the country. In order to reduce cost of doing business and increase ease of doing business, the incumbent government has been working on various energy projects on war footing," he said.
The Ministry of Commerce in order to modernise trade operations and to strengthen trade relations with neighbour countries on reciprocal basis has designed land ports at borders with neighbour counties. He said that the government established Treaty Implementation Cell (TIC) for the implementation of 27 EU conventions in all provinces including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. "All provinces are in close co-ordination among each other and monitoring the business activities closely," he added.
"We have launched a 'Business Guide' today at Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP). This has also been translated into Urdu. All the useful information for established and new exporters from various sectors is available in this booklet in a systematic way. The purpose is to facilitate exporters and to educate the new comers about the requirements of a very lucrative market," the minister said. Chairman, Pakistan Korea Business and Friendship Council, Ahsan Mukhtar Zubairi while giving welcome speech on this occasion said that Pakistan was founded on Quaid-e-Azam's vision of a welfare and prosperous country; with social and economic justice and equality being the hallmark of the country.
"Today the Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif has consciously perceived the Quaid's vision while announcing Vision 2025. It's good to see that the Vision 2025 exercises under the guidance of PM to restore the tradition of prospective planning in Pakistan. It reviews the sprit of other similar exercises namely Vision 2010 and 2013; which unfortunately were delayed because of political destruction," he added. He said that Vision 2025 was announced after consultation with wide range stakeholders including political parties, federal ministries, universities, NGOs, think thanks, and independent experts.
Sameer Dodhy Acting President Pakistan-Belgium Business Forum, Quazi Said Ali, Chairman, German Pakistan Trade and Investment, Muhammad Farooq Afzal, Chairman Pak-Russia Business Forum, Noordin Karim, Acting Charmin Pak-German Business Forum, Saeed Allawala Acting President Pak-France Business Alliance, and Pervez H. Madraswala, Chairman Pak-Australia Business Forum were also present.