Provincial Minister for Finance Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha has said that Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a consultation committee to review the pace of progress, the problems and reforms regarding the ongoing projects in her [Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha’s] supervision in which the Ministry of Industries, Production and Trade and Board of Investment have also been given nomination.
Pasha presided over a meeting to review the arrangements for the visit of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General Roberto Azevedo on Thursday.
Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce President and WTO Chairman Jamil Naz, Ministry of Commerce Deputy Secretary Adnan Lodhi, PBIT Director Khuram Afzal Malik, PSIC MD Bilal Ahmed Butt, Industries Chief Aslam Javed, Planning & Development Chief Economist Dr Amanullah, Agriculture Additional Secretary Hussain Sardar and Basmati Growers Association President Ch. Hamid Malhi attended the meeting.
The meeting reviewed the suggestions of stakeholders for the preparation of the presentation to be given on the arrival of DG WTO Roberto Azeveto. Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha said the Punjab Chief Minister has constituted a committee led by the provincial finance minister for consultation on the projects continuing with the participation of the WTO in Punjab.
Pasha said that WTO is not only providing a platform to its member countries for consultation regarding sale and purchase of goods and services but also playing an important role in promoting trade, eliminating disputes and reforming trade policy among them. She said that international trade policies have increased imports in developing countries like Pakistan but no progress has been made in the sector of exports due to which local industry is in crisis. She said that we should focus on formulating international trade policies with the assistance of WTO, which can help develop the local industry.