Usman Khilji, trade policy analyst, World Trade Organisation Secretariat, Geneva has said recovery of taxes and power crisis are among the major problems of Pakistan. While addressing a seminar titled "Trade Policy Follow up Review" he mentioned decline in Pakistan's trade as a proportion of GDP from over 35 percent in 2007-2008 to around 31 percent in 2013-14. On the occasion he also discussed textile, clothing and agriculture sectors' exports
Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) in collaboration with WTO Geneva, Ministry of Commerce organised the event, here on Thursday. Khilji also provided a detailed overview on the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) which is expected to become operational by the end of 2015 upon its approval by 2/3rd of the WTO members. The TFA is expected to bring in substantial savings in time and cost for international trading transactions by expediting movement, release, and clearance of goods.
Arne klau, Counsellor WTO Secretariat, Geneva, on this occasion provided details about objectives of the Trade Policy Review (TPR), its basic parameters, process, mechanism for dissemination and use of results and the benefits of the whole exercise. He provided information on the latest TPR for Pakistan completed by the WTO in 2015 during which the main features of Pakistan tariff regime were highlighted along with relevant economic issues and its comparison with the regional countries.
Earlier, TDAP Chairman S M Muneer said on the occasion, "I believe the decision of the WTO to send team of trade policy experts to Pakistan is important in the sense that the World body wants to inform, advice and educate the main stakeholders of the country in the field of trade, both from government and private sector." Dr Usman Narejo, DG TDAP gave vote of thanks. Other TDAP officials such as Athar Hussain Khokar, Director, Muhammad Farooq, Director, Naseer Hussain, and Farzana Abbasi also attended the seminar.