20000311

Proposals invited

for trade policy

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Ministry of Commerce has invited proposals for the new trade policy (2000-2001) from exporters associations and government departments concerned with trade.

A circular issued by the Joint Secretary Commerce says that it has been decided to invite proposals for consideration and formulation of the Trade Policy for the next financial year. All proposals and suggestions must reach the Ministry by April 15, 2000.

The Ministry has also laid down the procedure which provides that while

formulating each proposal, provisions of the current Import/Export policy may be carefully studied and kept in view. The ministry has called for the proposals to be supported by statistical data from relevant sources so that no proposal is dropped for want of supporting data.

The Ministry also advises that the proposals from the Federal Government/Divisions/Provincial departments must pertain only to the subject/items with which they are officially concerned

The number of proposals should be kept to an absolute minimum so that each proposal can receive due consideration of the authorities concerned at various levels.

The ministry has reminded all interested parties that since proposals are to be examined in detail and have to pass through a number of stages, if these are not received till the specified date, this Ministry would not be in a position to consider them, irrespective of merits. It is, therefore, incumbent on all organisations responsible for contribution towards policy making to take due note of the importance of the target date, the Ministry's circular said.

Meanwhile, Javed Chinoy, the Chairman of the Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (Prgmea), Central, has appealed to all members to send their proposals to the association so that positive and compact recommendations could be forwarded for the new trade policy.

Exhorting Prgmea members to contribute seriously to the new policy, he said that the Government was dedicated and wanted to formulate a strategy to salvage the economy from the impasse by boosting exports. This was the last chance for the exporters to get their genuine demands incorporated in the new policy.

Javed pointed out that all proposals submitted by Prgmea had been incorporated in the new Textile Quota Policy, and he was sure that members would avail of this opportunity to increase their exports by removing bottlenecks in the new trade policy.