The draft of geographical indication law is ready and will be tabled in the parliament in its coming session.
Trade strategic framework (policy) for 2015 to 2018 will also be announced soon, said Federal Minister for Commerce Engr Khurram Dastagir Khan while addressing the business community at the annual general meeting (AGM) of Rice Exporters’ Association of Pakistan (REAP) on Wednesday night.
He praised REAP’s role for promoting rice export up to dollars three billion per annum and appreciated its target of four billion dollars. After textile sector, he noted that the REAP was the second largest export organisation and it truly represented the country having members and officials across the country.
He noted that the REAP had done a lot for increasing rice export which included research and development activities, introducing latest technology for higher per acre yield of rice crop, and the value-addition along with welfare of the rice growers.
“Still more is needed to be done. We would have to put rice export on 21st century lines and move with the world. Like many other countries, Pakistan would have to focus on phyto-sanitary and plant protection standards,” he emphasized.
He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government had been trying its best to achieve the goal of economic prosperity and development in the country within the shortest possible time through maximum consultation and partnership with private sector.
“Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) are our partners,” he remarked.
He mentioned that the prime minister recently had a long session with the business community and heard the representatives of each sector separately with assurance of resolution of their genuine problems at the earliest. In next couple of days, he added that the prime minister would have another interactive session with the business leaders and might announce a package for the export sector.
Responding to the demand from the out-going and incoming Chairmen of REAP and Patron-in-Chief of REAP and Senior Vice-President FPCCI Abdul Rahim Janoo, the federal commerce minister said that the representatives of REAP would be taken on the boards of directors of Rice Research Institutes in Dokri and Kala Shah Kaku after taking the provincial governments into confidence. “This year, reforms will be introduced in these two research institutes,” he assured.
