Federal Minister for Industries and Production Lliaquat Ali Jatoi has asked the business community to understand and become part of emerging global trading regime which advocates a transparent and rule-based trading system.
He was addressing the inaugural session of one-day experts moot on WTO, organised by EAC of the Ministry of Industries and Production here on Wednesday.
He said that Pakistan would touch the level of 24 to 25 percent of industrial growth during current fiscal year due to the dynamic and high economic activities in the country. Last year's encouraging industrial growth of 17 percent shows the confidence of investors and business community, he added.
The minister said that the new system needed to ensure collective actions in terms of developing strategies. The WTO multilateral trading system has defined a set of rules encouraging countries to pursue open and liberal trade policies.
He said: "We have to gauge ourselves with respect to pressing demands of the current times to determine our future and make effective use of WTO provisions and procedures.
For instance, abolition of textile quota regime shall provide an opportunity for diversifying the country's textile products and markets, thereby enhancing Pakistan's export base."
As a signatory of Uraguay round, he said, Pakistan is under obligation to fulfil its commitments under WTO agreements. Though the tariffs have been reduced from 125 percent to 25 percent, protection against unfair trade practices in the shape of anti-dumping law and countervailing duties is available under WTO agreements.
Jatoi said that the domestic industry is faced with stiff competition mainly on account of factors including inefficiency, high cost of doing business, lack of access to financing, absence of linkages with regional and international production networks, low levels of skills inadequate training facilities for human resource development.
"The real challenge for developing countries like Pakistan is to look for ways and means where we can utilise our potential to increase Pakistan's share in global trade. The role of government is to negotiate the legal instruments and make improvements primarily for the benefit of industries, business enterprises and trading community."
The minister said that labour laws are being amended; treatment plants are being set up to facilitate the industrial sector, particularly textile sector to meet the challenges of WTO.
The deliberations from this forum shall be seriously worked out. A continuation to engage experts in specialised sectoral reviews and consultations shall be ensured.
The Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Mutwakal Qazi, Chairman EPB, Tariq Ikram, Chairman NTC, Faizullah Khilji and various other experts also spoke in the moot in different sessions and briefed the participants on WTO regime.
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