ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over a meeting on Thursday to assess strategies for boosting the country’s exports.
He emphasized the need for a well-structured and effective plan to elevate exports to $60 billion within the next five years. The prime minister directed his economic team to introduce sustainable reforms in the tariff system to drive economic growth and facilitate higher exports.
Highlighting the importance of a simplified tariff structure, he urged for a reduction in tariff barriers to streamline processes. He also stressed the need for reforms to enhance industrial production capacity, focusing particularly on services, information technology, and agriculture.
Shehbaz Sharif reiterated that export-driven economic growth is a crucial component of the “Uraan Pakistan” vision. He called for necessary changes in the governance of the Export Development Fund to support the expansion of export industries.
During the session, officials briefed the prime minister on initiatives undertaken to reform the Ministry of Commerce and efforts to achieve the $60 billion export target within five years. It was reported that tariffs had been gradually reduced over the past two years.
The Ministry of Commerce has been organizing international exhibitions in Pakistan annually to promote exports. Additionally, consultations with stakeholders on the Strategic Trade Policy Framework 2025-30 are ongoing. The final stages of consultation on the e-commerce policy are nearing completion, with cabinet approval expected next month.
A National Compliance Center has been established to align Pakistani products with international standards. This center will also design programs to enhance the capacity of export industries and conduct relevant training.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb, Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue Arshad Mehmood Langrial, and other high-ranking officials.
Reforms in Health and Pharmaceutical Sectors
Later in the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired another meeting focused on reforms in the health and pharmaceutical sectors.
He instructed the establishment of a high-quality drug testing laboratory in Islamabad to ensure that medicines meet international standards. Additionally, he directed the launch of mobile hospitals to improve healthcare services in the outskirts of Islamabad, as well as in Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and Balochistan.
The prime minister emphasized the need for a coordinated effort with provincial governments to crack down on counterfeit drugs, asserting that fraudulent activities in the pharmaceutical sector would not be tolerated.
He called for a comprehensive regulatory and developmental plan for the pharmaceutical industry in collaboration with provincial authorities. He also directed strict action against officials within the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) found involved in malpractices.
Shehbaz Sharif underscored the importance of medical research in boosting pharmaceutical exports and urged for the swift implementation of DRAP reforms. He further instructed that qualified and reputable professionals be appointed to DRAP’s policy board based on merit. Strengthening the Drug Pricing Committee was also identified as a priority.
Federal ministers Nazir Tarar and Ahad Khan Cheema, Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Health Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, and other senior officials attended the meeting.
During the briefing, officials provided updates on ongoing health and pharmaceutical sector reforms. It was noted that the digitization of the registration process for locally manufactured medicines was in its final stages. Additionally, consultations on the National Drug Policy were progressing and would soon be presented for approval.
Officials informed the prime minister about the recruitment of 94 new drug inspectors and the performance assessment of the existing 25 inspectors. Shehbaz Sharif stressed the importance of ensuring transparency in the hiring process.
The meeting was also briefed on Pakistan’s current pharmaceutical exports, which stand at $500 million. The Ministry of Health is implementing reforms, including research facility enhancements, to increase exports. The establishment of an Export Directorate within DRAP is nearing completion to facilitate the expansion of pharmaceutical exports.
Additionally, the Health Ministry outlined efforts to enhance the surgical sector’s capacity to align with international standards and boost exports.
