Aslam promises to resolve exporters issues on priority

LAHORE: Provincial Minister for Industries and Commerce Aslam Iqbal has said the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan is to increase exports by resolving the issues of exporters on a priority basis so the government will not allow any obstacles in the process.

All the problems of exporters would be solved and the federal government would also be contacted to resolve the issues related to the federation, said the minister which chairing a meeting of exporters of fresh fruits, vegetables and halal meat arranged by the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT).

He said that Punjab Board of Investment and Trade was not simply acting as a facilitator, rather it was working with an approach of bringing all the stakeholders together to streamline and boost the national economy by promoting business-friendly environment.

Punjab Board of Investment and Trade Chief Executive Officer Dr Erfa Iqbal, senior representative from the State Bank of Pakistan, Civil Aviation Authority, Customs, PIA, Trade Development Authority Pakistan, Animal Husbandry and Quarantine Department, Local Government and Community

Development Department, Livestock and Dairy and Plant Protection

Department were also present in the meeting held by Punjab Board of Investment and Trade in continuation of a larger dialogue conducted earlier in March to address the impediments faced by exporters across sectors.

A number of proposals for the amicable resolution to the issues were presented in the meeting. The participating exporters expressed satisfaction and optimism on the initiative taken by the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade for gathering the associated government departments on its platform to remove the obstructions and barriers being faced during the process of exports.

They also expressed their concerns and said that establishment of a dry port in Sargodha was need of the hour. They also demanded uniformity in the procedure for value assessment in G.D Form, along with highlighting the problems being faced in acquiring offload shipment e-form and variations in weighing.

The Halal meat exporters demanded strict implementation of the rules regarding slaughtering of useful animals, removal of quarantine fee, control on all disease, provision of free medicines to farmers and reduction in the time of shipment.

Taking all the stakeholders into confidence, Mian Aslam Iqbal stated that the government was fully aware of the problems being faced by the exporters and it was making an all-out effort for early amicable solution to the problems.