Expanding exports: Govt directs FTWs to prepare country-specific plans

Business Recorder reported that Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan has asked the Foreign Trade Wings to draw up separate action plans for each country on Tuesday. The plans should identify key goods to push, obstacles that restrict entry into foreign markets, shipping and bank-related difficulties, prospective importers and pending official engagements.

The directive came during an internal review meeting that examined Pakistan's export performance, bilateral trade dealings and progress on trade pacts, according to an official statement. Khan welcomed solid export expansion in several emerging markets and asked officials to build on that momentum through wider market spread, stronger business ties and closer work with overseas trade missions. He also highlighted fresh openings for rice, textiles, farm produce, medicines, processed foods, light engineering items and services.

On trade agreements, Khan stressed that deals must deliver balanced and commercially useful gains for Pakistan, and that existing ones should be reviewed regularly. He asked for faster scheduling of pending Joint Trade Committee and Joint Working Group sessions. He further called for tighter coordination among the commerce and foreign affairs ministries, overseas missions, chambers and trade bodies so that diplomacy produces measurable export and investment results. In his words, exporters have shown strong potential in traditional and new markets, so the task now is clearing obstacles and turning each trade contact into tangible economic benefit.