Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday ordered the immediate removal of the export development surcharge imposed on exporters, stating that any irrelevant or illogical use of the Export Development Fund (EDF) is unacceptable.
Presiding over a meeting to review recommendations of a sub-working group on increasing the country’s exports, the prime minister emphasised the need for reforms and accountability in managing the EDF.
He instructed that a third-party audit of the fund for the past five years be conducted in line with international standards.
A suitable private sector chairman should be appointed to ensure optimal utilisation of the fund, and its resources should be deployed to increase Pakistan’s exports.
Shehbaz Sharif further directed that the fund be used for training export sector manpower and providing world-class facilities.
“The EDF must only be used for enhancing the country’s exports, relevant research and development, skill development of the export sector workforce, training, and the provision of modern facilities of international standards,” the prime minister emphasised.
He also called for a third-party audit of all programmes and schemes under the EDF, along with a reform-oriented review and restructuring of TDAP’s role to enhance exports.
The prime minister stressed that promoting Pakistan’s export products worldwide is the federal government’s responsibility, and facilitating industrialists to boost exports remains a top priority of the government.
Following detailed deliberations on the export sector, the sub-working group tasked with enhancing exports presented its recommendations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz appreciated the group’s work and instructed relevant departments to take immediate steps while considering the recommendations positively.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal, Minister for Climate Change Dr Musadik Malik, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, the SIFC chairman and other senior officials.
