trade

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has approved a string of proposals of the commerce ministry envisaging further liberalisation of trade regime of Pakistan, it is learnt.

These proposals were approved in principle for inclusion in import and export orders. A source in the commerce ministry told Dawn on Thursday that these proposals would be considered in the upcoming ECC meeting.

As per commerce ministry proposal, the premier approved export of organic brown sugar. The commerce ministry believed that export of the commodity would encourage its production.

But the source said that the ministry of industries had only supported two per cent export of organic sugar as there were limited growers of brown sugar.

Contrary to this, the commerce ministry was strongly supporting export of the commodity on the plea to grab some share in the high value organic brown sugar exports in the international market.

Currently, the government has slapped ban on export of all kinds of sugar to avoid shortage of whiteners in the domestic market.

At the same time, the ministry of commerce has sought approval of the premier to slap complete ban on re-export of imported pulses.

Export of all kinds of pulses was banned. However, re-export of imported pulses was allowed.

The source said that there were reports that some people were involved in the business of exporting locally produced pulses under the garb of imported pulses. This complete ban would plug this lacuna for exporting locally produced pulses that led to shortage in the domestic market.

The commerce ministry also restricted the disposal of imported second hand/used ambulances before 10 years with full payment of duty and taxes. Import of second-hand ambulances was allowed when donated by any organisation/individual to a charitable or non-profit organisation trust or hospital provided they fulfill certifiable standards and have a minimum 10 years useful life.

According to the source, restriction on disposal of ambulances before 10 years was to avoid misuse of the ambulances as commercial vehicles after import.

To safeguard the biotech environment, the ministry of commerce has worked out new procedures for import of waste exhausted batteries of automobiles to retrieve lead which forms 55 per cent of a battery.

The proposed procedures are that import of such scrap be allowed only in favour of industrial consumer for their own use subject to the condition that importer shall furnish to customs authorities.

A certificate from environment authority that the importer has adequate manufacturing facility capable of handling hazardous wastes in accordance with the provision of Basel Convention and permission/authorisation specifying quantitative entitlement for the import of waste and scrap of electric accumulators issued environmental authority.