Privatisation and Investment Minister Senator Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has underlined the need for exploring potential areas, where Pakistan can promote its exports.
He made these remarks while chairing a meeting of the Senate Special Committee on WTO, held here Thursday last, said a press release issued here on Friday.
The Committee was given briefing by Cabinet Division Secretary Ejaz Rahim on the role and functions of the Pakistan Intellectual Property Rights Organisation (Pipro).
He informed the committee that a draft law for the constitution of Pipro is under process, which will be submitted in the Parliament after its vetting by the Law Division.
Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Chairman Tariq Ikram also briefed the Committee on the efforts to manage issues and opportunities emerging from the WTO, saying that in order to create awareness among the stakeholders, a WTO Cell has been established in the Export Promotion Bureau.
Briefing on the initiatives launched by the EPB, he said the exporters capacity/capability enhancement scheme has been launched with a view to preparing Pak exporters to meet the challenges of the WTO through World Class Consultancy.
He also enumerated a number of steps taken by the EPB to create awareness among the people about the WTO, and promote exports in different parts of the world.
The members of the Committee took active part in the deliberations of the Committee, and asked a number of questions about the performance of the EPB with particular reference to meet the challenges of the WTO.
They also gave valuable suggestions to enhance the performance of the EPB and promote export in various sectors.
The meeting was attended by Senators, Professor Khurshid Ahmed, Nisar Ahmad Memon, Lieutenant General Javed Ashraf (Retd), Syed Dilawar Abbas, Mohammad Azam Khan Swati, Ms Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli, Mrs Roshan Khursheed Bharucha, and Ch Mohammad Anwar Bhinder.
It may be added that the 16 members Special Committee headed by Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh was constituted by the House on a resolution moved by Senator Ch Mohammad Anwar Bhinder to suggest ways and means to face the challenges of the WTO coming into force in January 2005.