ISLAMABAD – Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment AbdulRazak Dawood on Sunday said Commerce Ministry was resolved to achieve US $26 billion export target in next three years by exploring new trade marketsacross the world.
The trade diversification, regional trade integration through Gwadar Portand exploring the new market like Africa region, North and South Americaand enhancing the production of engineering good for increasing export arethe main agenda of the government to boost exports, the adviser told APPhere in an exclusive interview.
He said regional trade and economic integration would play a huge role forenhancing connectivity with Central Asian States and Afghanistan.
Another major focus is on expanding the role of digital economy andconnecting with the international market to increase exports and create newemployment opportunities for youth, he said.
Replying to another question, he said the upcoming Strategic Trade PolicyFramework would address the needs of the modern economy where sales ononline markets make a significant contribution towards the economicactivities.
Razak Dawood said while moving towards the goal of digital transformation,Pakistan announced its first ever e-Commerce Policy in October, 2019.
He said the policy aimed at providing a launching pad to Pakistan’se-Commerce market and its exports, while proving to be a driver of youthempowerment and employment generation through digital connectivity.
Moreover, it would empower the women entrepreneurs in Pakistan andencourage the micro, small and medium enterprises to play their role ineconomic prosperity of Pakistan.
It would also be a tool for export enhancement through connecting withglobal e-commerce platforms, he said.
Razak Dawood said that under this Policy, a high powered Nationale-Commerce Council will be developed at the Federal and the Provinciallevels for proper and effective implementation of the e-Commerce Policy.
The Policy presents an opportunity to bring SMEs in the mainstream andconnect them with Pakistani as well as international markets through onlineplatforms.
Replying to another question, he said that Pak e-SME program will beinitiated to identify, train, enable and connect 50,000 e-SMEs of theremote areas of Pakistan to online market places for promoting e-Commerce.
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He said e-Commerce business facilitation hub will be created, a Commerceaggregator will be developed with Public Private Partnership to show casee-Commerce companies of Pakistan in front of the world.
He said the existing Federal and Provincial consumer protection laws wouldbe amended to adequately address consumer disputes arising throughe-Commerce platforms.
Consumer Protection will be ensured through proper implementation of theCode of Conduct by e Commerce Platforms, he added. He said e-Courts will beestablished for quick processing of consumer cases and their disposal in anefficient and effective manner.
Razak Dawood said to promote financial inclusion and digitization, effortswould be made to convert all Cash on Delivery (COD) payments into e-Paymentpreferably within 10 years.
He said availability of international payment gateways in Pakistan wouldalso be ensured.
All government procurements and transactions would be shifted toe-Procurement and online payment systems within three years.
Provincial Revenue Authorities would harmonize their GST collection systemto avoid double taxation for e-Commerce Platforms, he said.
The Adviser said Pakistan was on a stronger footing now with the e-CommercePolicy in hand and Ministry of Commerce will allocated requisite resourcesfor the implementation of the Policy which has become even more relevant inthe wake of Covid-19 pandemic situation around the globe, driving nationsto transition to electronic modes of transactions both domestically andinternationally.
Moreover, the STPF would ensure creation of liaison of different sectors’exports from conventional economies with online markets through e-commercepolicy, he informed.
