Subdued exports spark blame game

Dawn reported a rare blame game between the federal government and exporters as shipments slow and national exports fall. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, addressing the Pakistan Stock Exchange by video link on Thursday, said exporters had not met expectations despite incentives offered in the budget. He said he did not wish to single anyone out, but the sector had failed to deliver.

Mr Sharif added that the government had granted long-sought support, including measures that raised unit prices, yet results still fell short, and he had briefed the IMF managing director on the economy. Former Karachi Chamber president Jawed Bilwani, who coordinates the All Pakistan Exporters Association Forum, replied that policy design and implementation rest with the federal government, not with exporters, and that exporters should not carry blame for constraints they cannot control.

Mr Bilwani said exporters operate on thinner margins than regional rivals, face heavier taxes and wait long for refunds, while arbitrary FBR deductions and high utility costs add pressure. He pointed to a nine-day transporters' strike that caused large losses, and urged an emergency logistics cell at the Prime Minister's Office. He also stressed that export industries had invested in technology, quality control and certifications to meet strict global standards.