Pakistan has exported human hair worth $ 1.6 million in the last five years to different countries including the United Arab Emirates, United States and China. Parliamentary Secretary for Commerce Shandana Gulzar informed the House during the question hour that a total of 105,461 kilograms of human hair were exported to China worth $132,000 in the last five years.
The export of human hair which is used in wigs witnessed a decline in 2016-17 owing to a decline in the number of cancer patients, the secretary said.
She also informed the House that a new strategic trade policy framework is being evolved with focus on reducing cost of production and encouraging investment into export-oriented sector. She said a national tariff policy is also being finalised with the aim to encourage value added exports of the country.
Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Andleeb Abbas informed the House that PTI government has reset and reinvigorated relations with Saudi Arabia and UAE over the last five months.
She said the agreements signed with both the countries are quite open, adding that Saudi Arabia and UAE have provided balance of payment support package of $3 billion each on concessionary rates.
The Parliamentary Secretary said that Saudi Arab has shown interest to establish an oil refinery worth over $10 billion in Gwadar. Abbas said the UAE is also interested to invest in different sectors of the country. She said, "We have also signed several agreements with China in diverse fields, including science and technology, which will help further strengthen relations with China."
To a question about Kashmir issue, the parliamentary secretary said that Kashmir solidarity Day on February 5 will be observed this year not only in Pakistan but also abroad including London. She said, "We have also invited the OIC to organise a conference on Kashmir in Islamabad or at any other place to highlight the plight of oppressed Kashmiri people."
Abbas said international activists including a delegation of British MPs have compiled their stories and reports on gross human rights violations in occupied Kashmir.
The parliamentary secretary said 2018 was one of the deadliest years in occupied Kashmir in which Indian occupation forces killed more than 350 innocent Kashmiris and blinded and maimed many more including women and children.
She said that Pakistan has repeatedly invited the UN inspectors to visit the Line of Control and see for themselves as to which country is violating the ceasefire. Indian propaganda of carrying out surgical strikes inside Pakistan was also negated by its own media as a mere drama, she added.