Import stands at $31.2 billion, export at $15.6 billion so far: Senate body told

The Senate Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas was informed that the total import of the country was $31.2 billion and export $15.6 billion in the ongoing financial year, which was the best performance in the last six years.

The committee met with Senator Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar in the chair at Parliament House on Tuesday.

The committee discussed the import and export of the country carried out during the last five years, opening Chaman Customs Gateway and opening branch of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) at Badini Custom Gateway, and then issues relating to less developed areas.

The committee was told that in 2017-2018, the volume of import was $61.3 billion and export was $23.2 billion, while the import was $54.9 billion and export $23 billion in the financial year 2018-2019.

According to documents laid by the Ministry of Commerce in the committee meeting, the total imports of the country was Rs 7.45 trillion in financial year 2018-2019, Rs 6.694 trillion in 2017-2018, and Rs 5.54 trillion in 2016-2017.

A total import was in the financial year 2018-2019 in various items as; in food group was Rs 769.885 billion, Rs 1.212 trillion in machinery, Rs 421.2 billion in transport, Rs 1.962 trillion in petroleum, Rs 442.163 billion in textile, Rs 1.188 trillion in chemical, Rs 675.8 billion in metal, Rs 138.53 billion in miscellaneous, and Rs 638.41 billion in other items.

According to the document, a total export in 2018-2019 was Rs 3.131 trillion as compared to the previous financial year 2017-2018 was Rs 2.555 trillion.

A total export in various items in financial year 2018-2019 as; in food group was Rs 632.274 billion, Rs 1.813 trillion in textile, Rs 64.33 billion in petroleum and coal, Rs 457.12 billion in manufactures, and Rs 164.192 billion in other items.

The Ministry of Commerce additional secretary told the committee that the present government had also provided some subsidies to exporters, which has led to improvement.

He said that the export could be increased by promoting industries in the country.

The functional committee was informed that there were 224 employees in Ministry of Commerce in which 29 belong to less developed areas. The chairman of the committee, Senator Mohammad Usman Khan Kakar, directed that the ministry and its subsidiaries should provide identification cards, domiciles and other information of employees belonging to Balochistan.

Additional Secretary Commerce and DG Trade briefed the Functional Committee about the registration of Chamber of Commerce in the less developed areas of Balochistan and the current situation of Chamber of Commerce of Qila Saifullah.

They said that same policy had been adopted for registration however there was some concession for Women Chamber of Commerce.

Usman Kakar said that there were many reserves of Chromite in Fort Saifullah, Musa Khel, Muslim Bagh and other related areas.

He said that local people were linked to the import and export business, and they should be given license as soon as possible.

He said that the high court had also directed that the issue be resolved through dialogue.

He said that the Afghan Transit Trade at Chaman Border was stopped for many years and it was very important to promote export to the country and for this purpose the Chaman Customs Gateway should be opened 24 hours as soon as possible.

He said that for this purpose, Senate unanimously approved a resolution.

Regarding Badini Customs Gateway, the committee was informed that there were some issues that were being addressed and efforts would be made to begin on March 23.