Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Nouraiz Shakoor Khan Wednesday said a national action plan will be prepared during Medium Term Development Framework (MTDF) period (2005-10) for rapid industrial growth through industrial technology development.
"The government is well aware of the challenges posed by the globalisation and the importance of export promotion in achieving the goals of economic development and prosperity." He was addressing a launching ceremony of a report on "trade related challenges facing exporters in Pakistan" here at Ministry of Planning and Development.
The minister said over the MTDF period, an average annual growth rate of 11.6 percent is envisaged in the manufacturing sector. A focused policy thrust would be adopted for raising the threshold levels of technology base, industrial diversification, value addition, productivity and product quality, physical and social infrastructure and standardisation and certification to match the growth requirements.
He said the present urban and industrial centres are not sufficient to support the envisaged large growth of the industrial sector. A number of industrial estates would be set up in every province with the necessary infrastructure and self-contained utilities and ancillary facilities, including common technology support centres, he added.
Nouraiz said small and medium industries have an important role in strengthening industrial linkages, in penetrating markets, generating export earnings and preparing future entrepreneurs.
The government is making all out efforts to create an enabling environment for producers and exporters, he said while urging the private sector to seize up the opportunity and rise up to the challenges posed by a highly competitive global economic environment. Referring to the report, he said it would be helpful in devising policies aimed at improving trade capacity of local exporters.
He assured his ministry through technological institutions and in close association with Pakistan development partners endeavour to promote the growth of a competitive and internationally recognised laboratory testing, certification and accreditation service.
Earlier, UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) representative in Pakistan Shadia Yousif Bakhait briefed the participants about the survey being conducted by Pakistan Institute of Development Economics and Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).
She said over the last 10 to 15 years, Pakistan has taken concerted efforts to liberalise its international trade. Yet, Pakistani exporters continue to face trade related challenges due to longstanding structural weakness in the industrial and exporting sectors. The survey identified main constraints faced by Pakistani exporters in achieving compliance with international market requirements.
The report analyses the exporting behaviour of firms and the challenges pertaining to supply side, standards capacity and trading policy. It then provides possible options to alleviate them.
The report will be utilised to provide guidance in developing policy and capacity improvement strategies on how best Pakistan industrialists and exporters can meet trade restrictions and compliance requirements to address barriers to international trade.
The main recommendations of the report include issues relating to creating a conducive business environment, establishing conformity assessment infrastructure, strengthening supply capacity, trade facilitation measures and sectoral policy initiatives for textile, leather, agro process and fisheries sectors.