ISLAMABAD: The Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has allowed export of liquor on the recommendations of Commerce Ministry as part of its Trade Policy 2011-12. According to official documents, the ECC has approved regulatory changes in the import and export policy orders -STPF 2009-12--and proposals contained in serial numbers 1 to 12 of the Annex II to the summary.
The proposal number 3 of annex II states that all intoxicants, including liquor, are banned for export. Since for long there is domestic production of liquor to cater to the needs of non-Muslims living in the country, the surplus production can be exported to earn foreign exchange. It is, therefore, proposed that export of liquor be allowed, by non-Muslim enterprises, for export to non-OIC countries.
This proposal is among those proposals of Trade Policy which had been approved by the ECC in its meeting on November 11, 2011. The meeting was presided over by Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh. Sources in the Commerce Ministry told Business Recorder that the main purpose of this decision was to extend benefit to Murree Brewery.
The meeting was informed that the committee had finalised the list of items to be included in the positive list for import via land route. Ministry of Textile Industry did not support import of PTA from India via land route. The final list, along with the amendments in the Import Policy Order (IPO) and Export Policy Order, was placed before the ECC. It contained only one item--"flavouring powders"--which had previously not been agreed by the Ministry of Industries.
The Ministry of Commerce, however, argued that since import of this item is cost-effective and is extensively used in preparation of food industry that caters to a large segment of the population, its import may be allowed from India.
During discussion, it was proposed that 'electro-medicines' may also be included in the proposed positive list. It was explained that the proposed positive list had been prepared and finalised after a long consultative process and 'electro medicines' would have to pass through the same process, if these are to be included in the positive list.
The ECC further decided that the issue concerning inclusion of 'electro medicines' in the positive list may be processed following due process and be submitted for consideration of the ECC. The ECC was further informed that the Ministry of Commerce had made a presentation to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in September, 2011 on the proposed Trade Policy 2011-12, Pakistan's trade performance during 2010-11 and amendments proposed in the IPO and EPO.
The Prime Minister was informed that the amendments in the IPO and EPO were being proposed after due consultation with the relevant stakeholders including Ministries of Industries, Petroleum, Information Technology, Railways and the Federal Boar of Revenue (FBR).
Comments
Comments are closed.