Pakistan needs to bring its production methods and processes as per recognised world standards to be able to meet the quality requirements in international markets.
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) Cell Chief Seema Raza Bokhari on Wednesday stated this while addressing a seminar on General Awareness on WTO, Surgical and Sports Industry of Pakistan with respect to Non Agricultural Market Access (NAMA).
The seminar was held under the Ministry of Industries in collaboration with Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI). The WTO Chief, while briefing the participants about WTO and its implications for Pakistan said that when the Doha Round is finalised, Pakistan would have to carry out tariff reductions as per the Swiss formula in the NAMA Agreement. She said that Pakistan being a developing country would have the right to exercise flexibility options depending upon the coefficient it chooses to apply in the Swiss Formula. Seema apprised the participants that the proposed implementation timeline is ten years for developing countries from the year following the year NAMA is finalised as opposed to five years for developed countries thus providing cushion and policy space for improving competitiveness and productivity of domestic industry.
She highlighted the implications of NAMA for Pakistan’s local industry, especially for Sports and Surgical sectors in Sialkot, being the hub of exports in Sialkot. She emphasised that the technical standards were a matter of great significance and would be crucial under the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT).
The participants of the seminar feared that this can become a major impediment for developing countries in making meaningful use of market access and the industrialists need to prepare for the challenges ahead.
The SCCI president Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry while speaking to the seminar said that Sialkot has about 7000 Small and Medium Enterprises (SME)s producing exportable products especially sports and surgical items worth of $1.25 billion. He requested that strong and committed government support would be required to develop new products, brands and establishment of training institutes.
He emphasised that the industry in Sialkot was committed to take up the challenges and highlighted initiatives being taken by them to improve technology and standards. Ministry of Industries and its WTO Cell is committed to broaden the industrial base of Pakistan, upgrade the production methods and create awareness among the existing industry about rapidly changing international trading and business rules.
