The Ministry of Commerce would like to clarify its position with reference to a misleading news item titled "Ministry in State of Shock" published in the daily Business Recorder on 8th January 2020.

Contrary to the allegations, the Ministry of Commerce is not in a state of shock, rather in a state of satisfaction as the exports are increasing. The fact of the matter is that the newspaper has most "conveniently overlooked" the fact that the exports of Pakistan during the first half of FY 2019-20 have increased in value and substantially increased in quantity, which means that Pakistan is getting a greater market share.

The MOC would like to clarify the following false allegations: "Abdul Razak Dawood, on his Twitter handle had shared the external trade figures of first six months July-December 2019-20, showing 3.21 per cent growth as compared to the corresponding period of 2018-19 but actual provisional foreign trade figures released by Pakistan Bureau Statistics (PBS) show growth of 3.17 per cent. Commerce Ministry arranges foreign trade figures from PRAL which most of the time are different from the figures of PBS.

According to the PBS, exports during the first six months of current fiscal stood at $11.535 billion whereas Commerce Ministry claimed exports of $ 11.540 billion. Likewise, import figures were also exaggerated. The PBS's data shows that imports were $23.163 billion during the first half of current fiscal whereas Commerce Ministry claims the figure of $23.182 billion."

As regards to the statistically insignificant variation of 0.04% in export and -0.019% imports between data of PRAL and PBS, it was unexpected from a reputable newspaper to be oblivious to the fact that figures released by PRAL are always adjusted by PBS due to minor differences in tariff headings. The fact that the learned scribe does mention himself that these figures are provisional, one fails to understand the motive behind this news item.

"Secretary Commerce Sardar Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera remains available on phone and social media but there is clear confusion about who is official spokesperson and will respond to questions instantly."

There is no ambiguity in this regard that Aisha Humera, the Joint Secretary (WTO) of the Ministry of Commerce is the official spokesperson for the MOC. In its quest for nitpicking, the newspaper failed to check the website of the Ministry of Commerce, which clearly states the name of the official spokesperson.

'The Commerce Ministry has hired a private team for its image building against perks and privileges amounting to millions of rupees per annum from a World Bank's project of $ 75 million.' The MOC is not being funded by the World Bank, as alleged in this news story, this can only be the scribe's figment of imagination.

Once again the MOC would like to reiterate that contrary to the inaccurate assessment of the newspaper the Ministry is rather satisfied with its performance as Pakistan is on the positive trajectory of growth.

BR staff reporter Mushtaq Ghumman Adds: The news item is strictly based on trade data.