There is a need to take proactive measures to meet the standards and quality requirements for global competitiveness, as the WTO regime has changed the international trade scenario to a great extent.
This was the upshot of speeches delivered in a two-day seminar at a two-day seminar on "WTO and Change Management" jointly organised by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and the WTO Cell, Agriculture Department here at LCCI on Tuesday.
Punjab Agriculture Minister Khurshid Zaman Qureshi, LCCI President Mohammad Ali Mian, Vice-President Shafqat Saeed Piracha and Khalid Mehmood Chaudhry, additional secretary Punjab, also spoke on the occasion.
Khurshid Zaman Qureshi said that in today's global trading environment, economies can not function in isolation. It is, therefore, necessary to have a system of international trade that works for the benefit of all, adding there is a need for creating greater public awareness about the WTO system.
He said that high value agri sub-sectors like livestock, fisheries, and the horticulture represent tremendous unrealised potential, and what is needed is a proactive journey to carve out a niche for our value-added agricultural produce in the huge global market.
The LCCI chief, in his address, said that liberalisation of international trade has implications for economies of developing countries like Pakistan, resulting in several issues related to international trade, which need to be addressed, he added.
The provincial minister suggested that emphasis should be laid on building up strong confidence between agriculturists, industrialists, and government departments. He said that sectoral committees consisting of concerned stakeholders should be set up to discuss as how to meet the standards and quality requirements under the WTO and make needed recommendations to the government for global competitiveness.
Ali Mian also said that a national food safety and veterinary public health authority, as recommended by the World Bank, be established; an early warning system based on 'Food Safety Alert' be institutionalised; and Pakistan should participate proactively in the standardisation process.
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