960429

Pak banks should

open branches

in CA states

NAYYAR ZUBERI

KARACHI: The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has suggested that Pakistani banks should open branches in major cities of Muslim States in Central Asia in order to ensure safe and quick business transactions.

In its proposals for formulation of Trade Policy 1996-97, the KCCI has further suggested that special incentives should be given by way of reduction in air-freight or duty drawback at higher rates, to the exporters to the Central Asian Muslim States, where a big market exists for Pakistani goods, but no economic and safe land route has been established as yet.

The KCCI also suggested that the list comprising of importable and exportable goods from and to the ECO countries respectively may also be announced with clear descriptions rather than under generalised headings.

Steps should be taken to implement 10 percent cut in tariff on inter-regional movement of goods between ECO member countries, as already agreed upon.

The KCCI further suggested that the procedure for border trade with Iran be made simple and transparent, so that everyone in the country could benefit from this trade channel.

The SAARC countries have all ratified the agreements on SAPTA. The trade policy now provides guidelines for monitoring of SAPTA and solve problems faced in its implementation. It should also provide for moving to SAFTA from SAPTA, in a manner which should yield maximum benefit to Pakistan economy.

The KCCI suggested that firm procedures be outlined in the Trade Policy to achieve total conformity with ISO 9000 in Trade and Industry by end of year 1996.

The ISO 9000 be enforced at the imports stage to check the inflow of inferior quality products from abroad.

Enforcing quality standards in line with provisions of ISO 9000 has now become imperative to become competitive quality-wise, because in the new world trade order, the quality is more important than the price.

Pakistan has adopted ISO 9000 series of standards under the title of PS: 3000 for Pakistan.

The chamber pointed out that the seminars on ISO 9000 organised by Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) are not sufficient. A very comprehensive study has to be carried out and training courses on big scale have to be organised to train enough number of personnel to evolve an environment of quality consciousness in the trade and industry circles.

For this purpose, the KCCI suggested that Pakistan Standards Institution (PSI), Pakistan Institute of Management, Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Industrial Associations and the private sector institutions be entrusted the job of providing training. The funds for this purpose be provided from the Export Marketing Development Fund at the disposal of EPB.