PM Shehbaz Sharif approves Trade Facilitation Board to improve trade and ports

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chaired an important meeting on facilitation of trade. He approved the establishment of a Trade Facilitation Board. The Prime Minister will chair the board himself.

The meeting was told that the proposed board would improve the entire trade supply chain. It will also decide all non-tariff matters related to cross-border trade.

The board will also draw up a road map for the promotion of trade, a Trade Facilitation Index and a strategy for monitoring.

The Prime Minister directed that work be done on an emergency basis to improve the capacity of the country’s ports. He directed that various working groups be formed for this purpose.

The working groups will work on improving the capacity of ports, promoting coordination among the departments concerned, compliance with the regulatory framework and pre-arrival clearance. They will also work on the inclusion of small and medium-sized businesses in international trade.

The Prime Minister also directed that the movement of goods, clearance and other matters at ports be made easier for importers and exporters. He directed that maximum facilities be provided to them.

The meeting was briefed that port charges had been reduced under the ongoing reforms. It was told that the use of ports had improved significantly as a result. The briefing further said that the facility of submitting goods declarations before the arrival of ships was also steadily increasing.

Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb and Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry attended the meeting. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Industries Haroon Akhtar, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani and senior government officials concerned also attended.