KARACHI: Federal Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim on Monday assured the business leaders of his full support in resolving the issues hampering industrial activity and damaging exports.

He also invited the trade and industry leaders to Islamabad for holding meetings with respective ministries to resolve issues related to RGST, high gas and power tariffs, non-availability of raw material, law and order situation.

Responding to issues raised by business and industry leaders at a luncheon meeting, organised by the Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (PHMA), the minister said that in a democratic government where parliament is supreme all decisions are taken by the cabinet where all ministries’ views are taken into account before reaching a conclusion.

He, however, assured his ministry’s full support to resolve issues raised by the business leaders.

Referring to objections raised by some exporters over the recent amendments made by the EU on market access package by capping some textile items with 20 per cent growth, the minister said it is a unilateral offer and Pakistan has little to do about it.

However, he admitted that for getting duty free access in European market, the ministry of commerce, ministry of foreign affairs and the Prime Minister worked a lot. He said any package from EU involves all its members and each has its own stakes and priorities to protect their interests and our job is only to convince them.

Heads of 12 trade and industrial bodies were present on the occasion. The included Javed Bilwani, Javed Chinoi, Saleem Parekh, Mohsin Ayub Mirza, Shahid Soorty, Ch Salamat Ali, Rafiq Godial, Rana Mushtaq, Waqar Alam, Azizur Rahman, Khawaja Usman and Kamran Chandna.

Amin Fahim said that the government is also trying to get duty-free access to US market. He said the Export Development Fund issues would also be resolved as per business community’s demand.

He said that to make commercial consulars active and make their activities result-oriented, the MoC plans to hold regional conferences where business community would also be invited.

However, he said such conferences have financial implications even if held in the country and, therefore, feasibility is being worked out. The objective of such a conference is to discuss issues openly and only then MoC would be able to take action.