Saqib Mushtaq
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed the relevant authorities to carry out an urgent restructuring of National Tariff Commission’s legal, administrative, and other institutional powers and responsibilities to enhance its effectiveness.
The prime minister, chairing a review meeting on the performance of the National Tariff Commission, instructed for third-party review of the NTC’s recent performance and remodeling the organisation on modern lines to meet the requirements of the new tariff regime effectively, according to a PM Office press release.
He said that the NTC should be cognizant of all ground realities related to domestic business, imports, exports, and markets. The automated and efficient research capabilities of the NTC can play a key role in resolving issues faced by domestic businesses, he added.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said that the government was committed to addressing the NTC’s training and resource deficiencies and aligning its operations with modern requirements. He directed the immediate activation of the NTC’s Appellate Tribunal and also sought a briefing on the implementation of the given directives by next month. The meeting was attended by federal ministers Dr. Musadik Malik, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ahad Khan Cheema, and Ali Pervez Malik, and relevant senior government officials.
Shehbaz directs formation of committee to boost E-Commerce sector in Pakistan: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif underscored the strategic importance of e-commerce for Pakistan’s export-driven economic vision and directed the formation of a dedicated committee to devise a roadmap for the sector’s growth.
The Prime Minister was speaking during a meeting with a six-member delegation of Alibaba International Digital Commerce Company, led by its President of International Markets, James Dong, a Prime Minister’s Office news release said.
The delegation appreciated the growing presence of Pakistani entrepreneurs on Alibaba’s global e-commerce platforms. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted that over 300,000 locally manufactured Pakistani products are currently being sold on Alibaba’s platforms, and emphasized the need to increase this number substantially. He instructed relevant authorities to take concrete steps to expand the presence of Pakistani businesses on international e-commerce platforms, which he termed as “a powerful tool to boost exports in the modern digital economy.”
“E-commerce is no longer a choice but a necessity. It is a vital pillar in achieving the government’s goal of an export-oriented economy,” the Prime Minister stated. He called for proactive engagement with the private sector to enable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to access international markets through digital platforms. James Dong praised the contributions of Pakistani entrepreneurs in global trade and reiterated Alibaba’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s e-commerce ecosystem. “Currently, more than 300,000 Pakistani products are listed on Alibaba’s website, with textiles among one of the most in-demand category,” he noted. He further emphasized that Pakistan holds immense untapped potential in the e-commerce sector and expressed Alibaba Group’s strong interest in providing technical training to Pakistani entrepreneurs to help scale up their participation on international platforms. The meeting was also attended by Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Chairman FBR, and senior officials from relevant departments.
Premier directs for comprehensive plan to elevate PNSC to int’l standards: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the relevant authorities to formulate a comprehensive plan to transform the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) into a shipping company of international standard.
The prime minister, chairing a meeting to review the restructuring, reforms, and performance of the PNSC, said that Pakistan’s shipping sector held vast potential for investment, according to a PM Office press release. He directed that a comprehensive plan be prepared to encourage private investment in the shipping sector.
He called for steps to increase the number of ships and promote the competitive use of PNSC vessels for cargo movement to and from Pakistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz advised to acquire the services of shipping experts and consultants to elevate PNSC to an international standard shipping company.
He expressed the hope that the reforms in the PNSC would not only save valuable foreign exchange currently being paid to international companies for shipping services but also create more employment opportunities for local seafarers. The participants of the meeting were briefed on the PNSC’s operations, the current number of vessels in the PNSC, the annual cargo movement in Pakistan, and the future expansion plans for the organisation. Federal ministers Ahad Khan Cheema, and Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, and relevant senior officials attended the meeting.
