Exporters to get refunds from next month

ISLAMABAD: Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan on Thursday informed the National Assembly (NA) that the government would release Rs5 million refunds to exporters from the next month.

Responding to various queries during the question hour, he said the refunds issue of exporters would be resolved very soon and the Textile Ministry would pay Rs2.5 billion to exporters according to the textile policy.  Dastgir said the government was trying to get better market access for local businesses in the international markets by concluding free trade agreements and preferential trade agreements with different countries.

He said Pakistan’s exports gained 33 percent since getting the GSP Plus status, under which 99 percent of Pakistani products have access to 28 EU countries at zero rated duty. Pakistan was not only trying to diversify exports, but also exploring opportunities to export to eastern European countries.

To a question the minister said the government would soon launch an ecommerce framework under which the exporters can exhibit and sell their products online.

Dastgir informed the House there was constant increase in Transit Trade with Afghanistan.

Khurram informed the house that plant breeder act and rice act would be brought to the NA to benefit from international research.

He said value-addition in the textile sector can greatly benefit exports. During the current fiscal year Pakistan exported 12.10 million meters of cloth, he added.