Federal government's entire economic team will hold sector-wise consultation on Thursday (today) with all the exporters' associations on export performance, sector-specific issues and future export enhancement strategy on the directives of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Minister for Commerce, Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan, Minister for Finance, Senator Ishaq Dar, Minister for National Food Security and Research, Sikandar Bosan, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister for Water and Power, Khawaja Asif, Minister Planning, Development Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Tariq Bajwa, Secretary Textile, Secretary Industries, Chief Executive Officer TDAP and other officials will hold discussions with 12 sectoral groups individually regarding their issues.
The meeting is being held at a time with exporters when the Commerce Ministry has finalised Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF) 2015-18. A committee headed by Finance Minister has already agreed on an export target of $35 billion by 2018. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed all the relevant Ministers to sit with exporters and hear their issues and identify solutions.
"The idea is to hear exporters' grievances, summarise their demands for resolution of grievances including payment of blocked refunds of billions of rupees and then present the suggestions to the Prime Minister," the sources added. The Prime Minister, sources said, will hold a meeting with the top representatives of exporters' associations led by Chairman Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Friday.
"The Prime Minister will make some announcements with respect to payment of stuck up refunds to exporters who have been lamenting long delays in release of refunds with the FBR unwilling or unable to resolve their grievances," the sources continued. The Prime Minister has committed to exporters that their genuine grievances will be resolved without direct intervention of Finance Ministry. Insiders claim that the recommendations of the day- long meeting are expected to be incorporated in the STPF with the approval of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Replying to a question, the sources said, Commerce Ministry has already exhausted STPF's entire funding of Rs 6 billion. However, if Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif announces additional funding for exporters, it will be welcomed. When contacted, Commerce Minister, Engineer Khurram Dastgir said it will be a great achievement if refunds of exporters are cleared in two days.
He said representatives of all sub sectors of textile sector spinning, weaving, ginning, knitwear; garments etc have been invited to attend the meeting so that they can be heard individually. Auto and engineering, rice, chemical and pharma, agriculture and food sector, fisheries, gems, marbles, sports goods, surgical goods, gloves and apparel, etc, will also participate in the meeting. Pakistan Business Council (PBC) will hold a separate meeting.
Comments
Comments are closed.