(FORMER CHAIRMAN SITE ASSOCIATION OF INDUSTRY)

THE TRADE POLICY 2002-2003 IS A CONTINUATION OF THE PRO-ACTIVE APPROACH ADOPTED BY THE COMMERCE MINISTER, MR. ABDUL RAZAK DAWOOD. THE MINISTER HAS DISPLAYED THIS APPROACH BY MAINTAINING THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE MACRO FRAMEWORK ENVISAGED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

WE THANK THE MINISTER FOR APPRECIATING THE EFFORTS OF THE EXPORTERS WHO STROVE HARD TO MAINTAIN THE MARKET SHARE EVEN AT THE COST OF CUTTING DOWN THEIR PROFIT MARGINS. WE THANK THE MINISTER FOR ALSO APPRECIATING THE FACT THAT MAJOR INCREASES HAVE BEEN MADE IN EXPORTS TO SOUTH AFRICA, KENYA, MEXICO, AND GREECE.

WE APPLAUD THE EFFORTS TO SIGN THE FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH SRI LANKA AND BANGLADESH AND URGE THE MINISTER TO ACHIEVE THE SAME WITH AFRICAN COUNTRIES.

WE ALSO APPLAUD THE EFFORTS TO VIGOROUSLY SEEK THE REMOVAL OF TARIFFS FOR PAKISTAN'S AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.

WE ALSO COMPLIMENT THE MINISTER FOR LAUNCHING THE CAMPAIGN TO ENHANCE EXPORTS TO AFRICA BY ATLEAST 20% THIS YEAR. THIS IS A PRAGMATIC AND JUDICIOUS DECISION AND THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN UP WITH MISSIONARY ZEAL.

THE WAREHOUSING POLICY DEFINITELY NEEDS RE-DESIGNING AS WELL AS SINCERE IMPLEMENTATION. WE ARE SANGUINE THE MINISTER WOULD DEVOTE HIS CONCENTRATION ON THIS VERY ESSENTIAL TOOL IN OUR EXPORT MARCH.

WE APPLAUD THE DECISION TO LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF DUTY DRAWBACK FOR THOSE DOMESTICALLY PRODUCED ITEMS THAT ARE PRODUCED BY GST REGISTERED UNITS WHICH THE EXPORTERS USE FOR THEIR EXPORTABLE ITEMS. THIS WOULD BE A MAJOR BOOST FOR THE LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

THE POLICY TO EXEMPT SME AND THOSE UNITS WHO INCREASE THEIR EXPORTS BY ATLEAST 10% IS COMMENDABLE AND WOULD BOOST THE MORALE OF THE SMALL EXPORTERS.

WE SPECIFICALLY HAIL THE ACCEPTANCE BY THE MINISTER THAT THE COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGES MUST BE ADDRESSED AND THAT IMPERATIVE STEPS WOULD BE TAKEN TO ALLEVIATE THESE DISADVANTAGES. THE FREIGHT SUBSIDY INCENTIVE IS A GOOD STEP AND THE CREDIT GOES TO THE MINISTER FOR THIS SAGACIOUS APPROACH.

THE MINISTER HAS ANNOUNCED VERY PRACTICAL MEASURES AND INCENTIVES THAT WOULD CUT THRU THE RED TAPE AND REMOVE SUPERFLUOUS RESTRICTIONS. WE APPLAUD THE ELIMINATION OF THE CONDITION FOR COMPULSORY REGISTRATION FOR EDB.

WE HAIL THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PAKISTAN INTELLECTUAL PROPRIETARY RIGHTS ORGANIZATION (PIPRO) AS THIS WOULD BE A FORMIDABLE SUBSTITUTE FOR THE ANTIQUATED TRADEMARKS REGISTRAR OFFICE.

WE THANK THE MINISTER FOR ALLOWING SAMPLES UPTO US$ 10,000 FROM THE LOW FIGURE OF US$ 5,000 AT PRESENT. WE AGREE THAT THE M.E.P. FOR RICE BE ELIMINATED. WE LAUD THE STEPS TAKEN TO DO AWAY WITH THE LICENSING FOR BULK IMPORTS OF GOLD AND SILVER. WE APPLAUD THE ENHANCEMENT OF IMPORTS OF ESSENTIAL SPARE PARTS FROM THE PRESENT US$ 15,000 TO US$ 30,000. THIS IS HIGHLY COMMENDABLE AND APPRECIATED. WE APPLAUD THE DECISION TO ALLOW CELL PHONES TO BE FREELY IMPORTABLE. THE DEDUCTION OF E.D.S. AT THE TIME OF PAYMENT AT BANK STAGE IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED AND WOULD CONSERVE SOME WORKING CAPITAL.

WE WERE EXPECTING THAT THE MINISTER WOULD ANNOUNCE THAT THE DISBANDING OF THE DIRECTORATE OF TRADE ORGANIZATIONS. IT SEEMS THAT THIS DECISION WAS DIFFICULT TO TAKE AT THIS STAGE. WE WERE EXPECTING THAT THE MINISTER WOULD ANNOUNCE SOME SPECIAL INCENTIVES FOR THE MANUFACTURERS OF MAN-MADE TEXTILE PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY USERS AND MANUFACTURERS OF POLYESTER. THIS MEASURE WAS AGAIN NEGLECTED. THIS SEGMENT COULD PLAY A DECISIVE ROLE TO ENHANCE THE COUNTRY'S EXPORTS. WE FEEL THAT MORE AFGHAN-SPECIFIC INCENTIVES WITH LESS PAPERWORK AND MINIMAL BUREAUCRATIC CONTROLS FOR THE DOMESTIC EXPORTERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED.

OVERALL, THIS PRO-ACTIVE AND FUNCTIONAL TRADE POLICY WOULD WIDEN THE AVENUE FOR INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCE PROSPERITY. THIS WOULD ALSO BRING ABOUT SOME RELIEF IN THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS. OF COURSE, THE SENSE OF DIRECTION MUST REMAIN POSITIVE FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS.