29th Meeting of the Standing Committee on Commerce was held on Thursday, the 19th May, 2016, at 6:00 p.m. in the Parliament House, Islamabad, on the following agenda;

i.            Call Attention on import of milk, whey powder and meat harming local farmers’ interest;
ii.            Issues relating to decrease of Pakistan’s exports due to smuggling and custom issues and
iii.            On Bill to amend the Trade Organizations Act, 2013.

The Committee showed its serious concerns on the impact of powder milk, whey powder and meat which are harming the health of local people as well as the interest of farmers.

The representatives of the Ministry of Commerce informed the Committee that custom duty on fresh milk or in powder form is 20%, sales tax 17% and withholding tax is 6%. After the discussion the Committee recommended to increase custom duty to 100% on imported powder milk however they exempted this increase of custom duty on imported milk for children.

The Committee was also briefed by the representatives of FBR on smuggling issues. The Committee was informed that the department is taking effective steps to control smuggling on the eastern and western boarder of the country. The results are encouraging. The Committee appreciated the steps taken by FBR to control smuggling.

The Committee also considered Trade Organizations Act, 2013, and recommended to pass the Bill. It recommended to extend the tenure of Office bearers to two years instead of one year of Federal and Provincial Trade Organizations.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Commerce, Chairman Mr. Siraj Muhammad Khan, Mian Muhammad Rasheed, MNA, Ms. Tahira Aurangzeb, MNA, Dr. Mahreen Razaque Bhutto, MNA, Ms. Mussarat Ahmad Zeb, MNA, Ms. Sadia Begum, MNA, Dr. Fouzia Hameed, MNA, Dr. Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal, Rana Muhammad Hayat Khan, MNA along with senior officials of the National Assembly Secretariat.