The National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce recently spotlighted Pakistan’s persistent export stagnation.
Despite two decades of efforts, exports hover between $25-30 billion, far short of the ambitious $60 billion target.
Lawmakers expressed deep frustration over negligible trade growth with neighboring countries, even as diplomatic ties improve.
Security concerns appear to overshadow economic opportunities in regional markets.
Committee’s Sharp Criticism and Demands
MNA Aliya Kamran, who moved the Calling Attention Notice, challenged Commerce Ministry officials to name even one country where Pakistan’s exports have risen meaningfully.
She highlighted the irony: better relations with neighbors yield zero or minimal trade gains.
Committee Chairman Jawed Hanif Khan noted that security priorities dominate over commerce in these relations.
Proposed Actions and Broader Challenges
The committee resolved to summon detailed briefings from the Ministries of Defence, Interior, Foreign Affairs, and the State Bank of Pakistan to uncover root causes.
Structural issues persist, including high costs of doing business, energy shortages, taxation burdens, provincial cesses, and reliance on imports.
Unresolved loopholes in the export framework have lingered for 20 years.
Discussions also covered sector-specific woes, such as a 50% drop in rice exports due to India’s subsidized global supplies, causing oversupply and price depression.
The panel endorsed Rs15 billion support from the Export Development Fund for rice exporters to target $1 billion in shipments.
Proposals for the gem and jewellery sector, including better regulation and export promotion, were reviewed.
Inter-ministerial coordination emerged as key to breaking the stasis and fostering sustainable growth, jobs, and economic stability.