Businessmen want export rules, procedures simplified

PESHAWAR: The business community on Friday demanded to simplify the complicated regulations and documentation procedures related to exports to ease their difficulties and boost the export of locally manufactured products to regional countries.

This was stated by Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Acting president, Shahid Hussain, while speaking at an awareness seminar titled: “FX Operations and State Bank Online Portal.”

The seminar was jointly organised by the SCCI and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) at the Chamber’s House here. Managing Director Service Corporation State Bank of Pakistan, Muhammad Ashraf, Group Head of Foreign Exchange and Finance Department SBP, Shaukat Zaman, Director Exchange Policy Department SBP Arshad Mehmood Bhatti, Chief Manager SBP Peshawar, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Regional Head North SBP, Sajjad Ali Shah, former president SCCI Haji Muhammad Afzal, executive members, Aftab Iqbal and Ihsanullah, APCEA former chairman, Engr Manzoor Elahi, Sardar Gul, Fazal Wahid, traders, exporters and importers, managers and representatives from public and private sector commercial banks and others attended the event. Shahid Hussain said the traders and exporters were facing difficulties due to complicated regulations and lengthy documental procedures which had adversely affected trade between Afghanistan and Central Asian republics. He said the SCCI and SMEDA had jointly established Business Facilitation Centre in the Chamber’s House to resolve business community issues under ‘One window operation’ service. The SCCI acting chief hailed the government for its initiative of Ease of Doing Business. Earlier, Managing Director Banking Service SBP, Muhammad Ashraf said that improvement had gradually been seen in foreign exchange reserves and the rate was stabilizing.