Pakistan seeks tariff cutting accord with EU to boost exports: minister

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan has urged European Union to provide a tariff-cutting accord to increase exports from Pakistan to Europe.

In an interview published in Washington-based journal “Politico”, he said that Pakistan was coming out of a crisis including energy shortages, and the accord will be essential to fight against terrorism and illegal migration.

The minister said that Pakistan witnessed positive turnaround and now the government is focusing on more growth and social improvements.

Earlier, the Pakistan-European Union Energy Dialogue was held in Brussels and discussed cooperation in power sector.

The two sides discussed the energy situation of Pakistan and the potential for cooperation for viable projects to help meet its growing demand of energy.

Pakistan’s delegation was led by Additional Secretary Ministry of Water and Power Umar Rasool, while the EU team was led by Christopher Jones Deputy Director General in the Directorate General for Energy.

Dastgir has just returned from a visit to Brussels where he met several prominent European leaders including member of the Committee on International Trade in the European Parliament Jan Zahradi.

In a meeting Dastgir aid the GSP-plus offers huge potential to enhance mutual trade between Pakistan and EU. He said that Pakistan’s exports to Europe have been increased by 37 percent during last three years.

The minister said the government has shifted its focus towards strengthening its economy through trade rather than aid, and Pakistan had made improvement in peace essential for economic progress.