ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday said that promoting trade and facilitating business community, especially the overseas Pakistanis who wanted to invest in various conventional and non-conventional sectors of the economy, was among the priority areas for the government.
He said this while chairing a briefing about functions of Ministry of Commerce at Prime Minister’s Office. Advisor to PM on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood was also present during the briefing.
Commerce Secretary Muhammad Younas Dagha gave a detailed presentation about the functions of the ministry and its attached departments. While briefing the prime minister about the current situation of imports and exports of the country, the secretary proposed policy initiatives and various short-term and medium-to-long term measures aimed at promoting trade activities and realising export potential of the country.
PM Khan said that the existing structures of facilitation of investors would be reviewed to ensure seamless facilitation of prospective investors.
Discussing the role of trade officers abroad towards the enhancement of country’s trade, the prime minister observed that there was a need to review the criteria of appointment and assessing the performance of the trade officers to ensure that business community is properly facilitated, the investment potential of the country is highlighted and the trade targets are achieved.
The prime minister also directed that a comprehensive strategy should be worked out to check corrupt practices of illegal money transfers (hundi) and smuggling which were negatively affecting the country’s economy.
