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Adviser to Prime Minister for Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood has said that Pakistan’s trade with Afghanistan has not been experienced any disruption in the wake of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
“Trade with Afghanistan is as usual as trucks are still crossing into the neighbouring country via the Torkham border,” he said while speaking to media after inaugurating Pakistan Shoe Design Hub in the eastern city of Lahore.
However, he ruled out the possibility of resumption of trade with India, saying that Pakistan focussing on its western borders.” We may think about eastern borders later,” Abdul Razzak Dawood said.
The adviser shared that the government is presently focusing on the ways to promote local manufacturing of the daily use products with an ultimate objective to boost exports and bring down imports. “Pakistan has started export of mobile phones,” he said adding that they had introduced a new policy of local mobile manufacturing that would boost the industry.
He further shared that the footwear industry has been neglected for the last decade. “We have recently scaled down the duties on the raw material and machinery,” Abdul Razzak Dawood said.
Responding to a question, Abdul Razak Dawood said that there is nothing to worry about GSP plus status as it has already been extended by the EU for Pakistan for another two-year term. ” Hopefully, it will have another extension next year,” he added.
On inflation, he said that prices of food items have experienced hike globally . So it is not something specific to Pakistan only.
“Oil prices, shipping charges, and food prices are rising globally,” the adviser said while sharing the reason behind the increase in prices for food items.
