While showing serious concern over the massive decline in the exports of pine nut from Rs 84 billion in 2013-14 to Rs 30 billion in 2018-19, a parliamentary panel has directed the relevant officials to conduct an inquiry and submit details.
These directions were given by the Senate Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas, which met with Senator Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar in the chair, here on Tuesday.
The committee discussed the developmental projects under the Ministry of Commerce in the less-developed areas of the country with focus on Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).
While discussing the issue of construction of expo centres in Peshawar and Quetta, the panel was informed that construction work on Peshawar Expo Centre has almost 45 percent been completed. The construction of expo centres in Peshawar and Quetta is a federal subject. The former government allocated Rs 2.5 billion for the construction of Peshawar Expo Centre while PC-1 of the Quetta Expo Centre has been completed; however, feasibility study of the project has not been done so far, the officials further said.
The construction of expo centres in the two provincial capitals is aimed at providing ease to the traders and facilitating the business communities of the area.
The committee directed the ministry to expedite construction work on two expo centres, especially on Quetta Expo Centre which will be a hub for future trade of Pakistan as it is the main route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The establishment of expo centres in Peshawar and Quetta is designed to attain following goals; enhancement of trade with Afghanistan and the Central Asian States, promotion of business activities, creation of job opportunities in the provinces, economic boost in the provinces, promoting progress and development and sharing innovation and fostering cooperation among the traders of federating units as well as neighbouring countries.
The senior officials of Ministry of Commerce briefed the committee on the production and export of pine nuts as well as on overall performance of pine nuts during the last five years in the country, particularly in less-developed areas of Balochistan and erstwhile Fata.
The committee was informed that in 2018-19, pine nuts worth Rs 30 billion were exported. While showing serious concern over the three times decline in the export of pine nuts, the panel asked the officials give the reasons as to why and how such a decline in export of pine nuts occurred as it was Rs 86 billion in 2013.
The secretary commerce informed the committee that a study would be conducted to know the causes of decrease in export and other issues related to pine nuts cultivation.
The committee also recommended the approval of registration for the chambers of commerce in the less-developed areas of Balochistan, particularly Muslim Bagh, Gwadar and Musakhel. The committee was briefed on the overall performance of ministry and its attached departments, including funds utilised and surrendered for each project for the people of the less-developed areas of all provinces and erstwhile FATA during the last five years.
The chairman of the committee said that Balochistan has the best livestock and fruits such as pine nuts and others; therefore, the government must provide more facilities to the people in the less-developed areas to increase the exports.
The committee was also briefed about the employees of the ministry and its attached departments working on regular, contractual, ad hoc and deputation bases as well as vacant posts related to the people of less-developed areas.
The meeting was also attended by senators, including Rahila Magsi, Molvi Faiz Muhammad, Gianchand, Senator Fida Muhammad, Haji Momin Khan Afridi, Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti, Nighat Mirza, and Samina Saeed.