Carpet cities and expo parks to promote exports – Pak Trade Policy
Pakistan has announced its new Trade Policy for 2006-07 hoping for an export target of $ 18B, while imports are projected at $28B.
++ The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), a state-of-the-art trade promotion organization, replacing the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), will be effective in ensuring a quantum jump in the country's exports.
++ setting of Carpet Cities in Lahore and Karachi;
++ Dazzle Park in Karachi; (for gems and jewellery)
++ three more Expo Centers in Islamabad, Quetta and Peshawar;
++ Cool Chains for Horticulture Exports,
++ Freight Subsidy Scheme
++ reduction of customs duty on some marble and granite machinery and on horticulture and floriculture machinery to zero percent and reduced duty on horticulture raw material from 25% to 5%, on complete rice par boiling plant from 25% to zero percent, on pharmaceutical heat ventilation air-conditioning units from 25% to 5%, and on imported raw material for footwear from 10% to 5%.
++ Resorting to trade diplomacy to increase market access;
++ regional diversification of export markets;
++ strengthening of trade promotion infrastructure; skill development; and early provision of modern infrastructure.
++ 25% freight subsidy scheme on exports of new products and to new markets,
++ on official visits of VVIPs (President and the Prime Minister) to countries that are good potential markets, a single country exhibition show casing Pakistani products will be organized.
++ with a view to strengthen and promote Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector the government has decided to establish a specialized SME Export House as a corporate entity with public private partnership and run by professional management.
++ the government has decided to explore the setting up a modern warehouse city in Karachi by a corporate entity with public-private partnership and run by professional management.
++ as the cement industry is undergoing major expansion, with an expected exportable surplus of 10 million tons by end 2007, the government is planning a specialized coal, clinker and cement terminal at Port Qasim Karachi to facilitate the export of cement.
++ halal meat export zones will be established in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta with state of the art infrastructure to facilitate exporters and realize the potential of meat exports from Pakistan to Islamic World.
Announcing the policy, the Commerce minister said, “when economies grow rapidly like ours has grown, certain challenges are faced and ours has been inflation. Future challenges lie in striking the right balance between economic policies to achieve exports growth, control inflation and narrow the trade gap."