External trade

This refers to the news report ‘Nawaz seeks priority access to US markets for Pak goods’ (September 24). Pakistan was granted GSP Plus status by the European Union but the government failed to capitalise on the facility. The country’s exports are witnessing a continuous decline for the third year running. Instead of rhetoric, the government should seriously consider improving the agricultural sector as well as the industrial sector which is struggling to survive. A turnaround in agriculture and manufacturing can assure increase in export earnings. There is no other shortcut to improving external trade which is hugely imbalanced at this point of time. Exports are covering just 50 percent of imports, a barometer of dependency on other countries emanating from poor economic management.

The government is too invested in undertaking visible infrastructure projects rather than focusing on agriculture and industry which contribute 80 percent to the GDP. Only sustained and measurable steps can ensure a robust export sector.

Kulsoom Arif

Karachi