ISLAMABAD: Minister for Commerce, Makhdoom Amin Fahim said on Saturday that seventeen routes through Afghanistan have been identified with sound trucks tracking system for exports of Pakistani goods which would benefit Pakistan's economy and its exports.

This was stated by Makhdoom Amin Fahim in his maiden press conference after taking oath in the new Federal Cabinet here.

The minister highlighted the performance of his ministry and its allied departments.

He informed the media that highest ever exports were achieved in 2009-10. He said that under the three years trade policy six per cent target was achieved in the first year while, in the second year the Ministry of Commerce achieved 9 per cent exports against the target of 8.6 per cent and this year we have crossed the 24 percent against the export target of 10 per cent.

Fahim expressed the hope that Pakistan would cross US $ 22 billion during the current financial year.

He said that European Union (EU) has announced unilateral tariff concessions on the 75 items for Pakistan and decided that it would put up the case before World Trade Organization (WTO) for approval.

The Minister hoped that this would help Pakistan to penetrate European markets for the Pakistani products for the benefit of the country.

He added that negotiations with China are also in progress for tariff line on 284 items for Pakistani goods.

The minister said that Ministry of Commerce has taken a number of steps for the market access to Pakistani products including mangoes.

The minister said that negotiations with USA are also in progress to include flood-affected areas in the Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ZOZs) to benefit them.

He informed that Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design (PIFD) is being upgraded to university level with the establishment of six new fashion and design colleges at Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan  Faisalabad and  Hala soon.

He was flanked by Secretary Commerce Zafar Mehmood and the heads of allied departments of the Ministry of Commerce.

Makhdoom Amin Fahim also lauded the performance of the officers and staff of the Ministry of Commerce.