ISLAMABAD – National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce on Friday stressed that tax liberalisation should not be extended to finished goods and luxury items, ensuring that the focus remained on sectors that aligned with national economic priorities.
The meeting was convened at the Parliament House, Islamabad, under the Chairmanship of Muhammad Jawed Hanif Khan, MNA. The committee decided to hold a detailed briefing on the Pakistan National Tariff Policy in the next meeting. The proposal for liberalising raw materials and machinery imports to support industrial growth and to enhance productivity was also discussed in the meeting.
The meeting reviewed the progress of key legislative measures and addressed pressing trade-related matters to enhance Pakistan’s commercial landscape. The committee discussed the previous issue of disruptions in the export of rice. Emphasising the importance of resolving this matter, the committee urged the Department of Plant Protection to enhance its administrative oversight, particularly concerning container inspections and related procedures. The committee was assured that efforts were actively underway to address these challenges, with a commitment to minimising, if not eliminating, future disruptions in rice exports.
The committee also discussed the suspension of SRO 760. The chair emphasised that the suspension of the SRO was a decision of the federal cabinet, and only the cabinet could reinstate it. However, interim relief for pipeline issues remained a priority, and the ministry had already made necessary requests for such relief. On discussions regarding granting special relief/rebate by the government to food exporting companies it was noted that this incremental tax rebate would assist generating additional revenue for the country. The committee decided to forward the matter to the Federal Board of Revenue for further deliberation.
The committee reviewed “The Export Development Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2025”, (moved by Muhammad Mobeen Arif, MNA), and “The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2025”, (moved by Usama Ahmed Mela, MNA) in depth and decided to constitute a sub-committee for detailed deliberation on the bills after the expiration of the previous sub-committee, therefore, pending the bills till then.
The meeting was attended by MNAs, Muhammad Mobeen Arif, Usama Ahmed Mela, Ms Shaista Pervaiz, Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Muhammad Atif, Ms Tahira Aurangzeb, Khurshid Ahmed Junejo, Ms Kiran Haider, Mir Amir Ali Khan Magsi in person, whereas, Asad Alam Niazi, Rana Atif, Muhammad Ali Sarfaraz, Farhan Chishti, MNAs and Ms Sharmila Sahiba Hishaam Faruqui, MNA/Special Invitee attended the meeting virtually. Senior officers from the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Ministry of National Food Security and Research were also present in the meeting.
