ISLAMABAD
Board of Administrators of Export Development Fund approved project for the establishment of Tannery Zone at Sialkot for Climate Change Adaptation through tanneries relocation in leather industrial zone.
The project is implemented under the supervision of Environmental Protection Agency Punjab with the technical and financial assistance of United Nations Industrial Development Organization. The project will address the concerns of international buyers who often express alarms at the environmental issues caused by the tanning industry thus resulting in enhanced procurement orders from Pakistan.
Federal Minister for Commerce, Engr. KhurramDastgir Khan chaired the 70th meeting of the Board of Directors of Export Development Fund which approved several projects for export facilitation, development and promotion.
The Board also approved holding of road shows in the Central Asian Republics of Kazakhastan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in May to showcase Pakistan’s products in pharmaceuticals, textiles, sports, surgical goods, agricultural products and auto parts. Trade Development Authority of Pakistan plans to hold these exhibitions in a single visit in the first half of May before Ramazan to seek a diversion of imports of these CARs in these products from Pakistan.
In his observations, the Minister for Commerce said that the CARs have considerable imports in these sectors from around the world but buys very nominal amounts from Pakistan. He was of the view that with the advent of regional connectivity projectsin Pakistan with its neighbors, the CARs have shown enhanced interest in importing from Pakistan which was conveyed in clear terms in the chain of visits conducted by the Prime Minister of Pakistan last year. These road shows will provide the private sectors to establish business-to-business linkages and capitalize on the opportunities which have appeared as a result of the trade diplomacy of Pakistan, he added.
The Board also approved the project put forward by the Surgical Instruments Manufacturers Association of Pakistan to purchase hi-tech machinery to bring sophistication and modern technology in the production methods of surgical goods.
The Board directed Trade Development Authority of Pakistan to work in collaboration with the EDF Secretariat, port authorities and officials of Anti-narcotics force to establish digital scanning equipment at the ports. Mr. Dastgir added that in order to enhance export facilitation the Ministry aims to replace the time-consuming, physical checking of export consignments at the ports which badly damages the packaging of the consignment with swift and efficient scanning through machines.
The Board was informed by the President of the Quetta Chambers of Commerce and Industry that the land for the construction of Expo Center in Quetta has been selected and the Chambers is in negotiations with the provincial Government to transfer that land to them.