Federal Minister for Industries and Production Syed Murtaza Mahmud has reiterated the need for increasing exports through import-substitution policies to rescue the country from its perennial economic mess. He was talking to a delegation of industrialists and businessmen from the Karachi Export Processing Zone Authority. The Minister said that concerted efforts on part of the government and the business community are needed to revive the export sector of the economy.

He said that his ministry is working on providing one-window facilities in all its departments. Murtaza Mehmood directed the Export Processing Zones Authority to listen to the queries of investors on a priority basis and remove any hurdles in the way of industry so that it can revive itself to increase exports.Investors and industrialists from the Export Processing Zone told the Minister about their problems. The Minister carefully heard the reservations of the industrialists and assured them that they would be facilitated by all the departments under his ministry.

During the meeting investors also raised the issue of non-cooperation by Pakistan Customs, imposition of 17% GST on businesses working in EPZs, and hurdles being faced by them due to the absence of a Board of Directors. They suggested to the Minister that Information Technology and Agriculture are the sectors in which a lot of growth potential exists. They impressed upon the Minister that the government should pay special attention to these sectors to make them globally competitive and to increase exports of the country.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk