Islamabad, 18th July 2017; 41st meeting of the Standing Committee on Commerce was held today under the Chairmanship of Mr. Siraj Muhammad Khan, MNA.

2.        The meeting started with the recitation from the Holy Quran. Then, the Committee decided to proceed with the agenda.

3.         The Committee unanimously confirmed the minutes of three previous meetings held on 27th March, 2017, 28th March, 2017 and 27th April, 2017.

4.         The Committee was briefed by the Ministry that no PTA/FTA has been signed by the present Government since 2013 to 2017. The Committee shows its concern about speedy trade deficit in exports. It was informed to the Committee that the Prime Minister has announced a package in recent past due to which the trade rate has been enhanced to 16% in the last month. The Committee recommends the Ministry that import of the commodities/products which are produced within Pakistan should be discouraged by imposition of taxes, tariffs and regulatory duties.

5.        The Committee was briefed by the Ministry that due to enhanced rates of oil, gas and electricity, the industries are facing problems to compete the international market resulting into decline of exports causing trade deficit in country. It was informed to the Committee that now the electricity and gas is regularly and continuously provided to the industries. It was recommended by the Committee that instead of giving cash subsidies to the industries, rebate on the rates of electricity and gas should be granted to all the industries. It was directed by the Committee that the exemption of General Sales Tax (GST) on exports of all commodities/products should be considered by the Ministry.

6.        The Hon. Members/MNA Ch. Asad-ur-Rehman, Mr. Muhammad Pervaiz Malik, Mr. Waseem Akhtar Shaikh, Ms. Tahira Aurangzeb, Ms. Zeb Jaffar, Dr. Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharral, Ms. Shahzadi Umerzadi Tiwana, Dr. Mehreen Razaque Bhutto, Mr. Nazir Ahmed Bughio, Ms. Mussarat Ahmad Zeb, Ms. Sajida Begum, Mr. Sanjay Perwani, Dr. Fouzia Hameed and Minister for Commerce attended the meeting besides the senior officers from the Ministry of Commerce with their staff.