Senior Commerce Minister, Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Acting Secretary Commerce, Munir Qureshi on Thursday opted to remain mum on a proposal to reduce the age limit of imported used cars from five to three years amid various accusations.
Commerce Ministry convened a press conference to brief media about the unilateral trade package called Autonomous Trade Preferences (ATPs) meant to help Pakistan's economy recover from losses it sustained during the floods of 2010, and the signing of Joint Declaration with European Free Trade Association (EFTA) comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Trade package contains 75 products out of which 26 will be subjected to tariff quotas. Minister of State for Commerce, Abbas Khan Afridi was also present on this occasion.
Several journalists inquired from Senior Minister and Acting Secretary why Ministry of Industries headed by Deputy Prime Minister/ Senior Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi sent a summary to the ECC when import matters are the sole domain of Commerce Ministry and so stipulated by the ECC itself in one of its decision.
The Acting Secretary Commerce was also asked which view he would support in the ECC committee headed by Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, to which he replied that he could not disclose it before the media but added that everyone knows Commerce Ministry's viewpoint on this issue. "Some matters are secret and cannot be shared with journalists. I have conveyed the viewpoint of this Ministry to the chairman of the committee," Qureshi added.
Senior Commerce Minister did not respond to questions on used imported cars that continued for at least 15-20 minutes but continued to smile. Commenting on EU trade package, Senior Commerce Minister said that this has been achieved through collective efforts of different ministries. He also gave credit to former Secretary Commerce (now OSD), Zafar Mahmood, incumbent Acting Secretary, Munir Qureshi for approval of this package, financial benefit of which is expected to be to the tune of Euro 500 million by December 31, 2013.
Replying to a question, Munir Qureshi said that Commerce Ministry has submitted its three year Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF-2012-15), with a $95 billion export target. He, however, maintained that the initial target of Rs 60 billion for three years to implement new and existing schemes had been revised down substantially.
Munir Qureshi was also asked why Commerce Ministry is requesting the Finance Ministry openly to release funds allocated in the past to which he replied that the media should ask the question from the Finance Ministry. Acting Secretary said slow release of Export Development Fund (EDF) by the Finance Ministry will be raised in the special cabinet meeting to be convened to approve STPF.
Replying to a question Acting Secretary said that concerns of business community on trade with India and South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) which are being implemented from January 1, 2013 would be dealt with but added that there is no possibility of any delay in phasing out of negative list to be implemented from January 1, 2013.
In reply to another question, he said that Pakistan has ratified all the 27 international conventions to qualify for Generalised System of Preferences (GSP-plus) , adding that there are issue which are yet to be resolved which would be sorted our at a high level meeting to be convened soon. He dispelled the impression that Textile Ministry is in solo flight in seeking funds for export development, saying that the Ministry comes to the Commerce Ministry for this purpose.
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