RECORDER REPORT

HYDERABAD: The Director Domestic Trade Wing of the Federal Commerce Ministry M Asim Tiwana has said that the federal government with the cooperation of the provincial government is desired to promote the domestic trade at the pattern of developed countries of the world so that the business community would get maximum advantages and benefits of their production. He was addressing office bearers of Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (HCCI) at their secretariat on Thursday.

He said numbers of developed countries like the US, China and Japan had introduced fruitful reforms to promote the domestic trade. The Federal Ministry of Commerce wants to introduce the same for the benefits of the business community of Pakistan, the director added.

Asim Tiwana said the ministry will convene a meeting of all concerned departments within a month to prepare recommendations which will be communicated to provincial governments including Sindh so that the same could be implemented for development of trade and industry in the province. He also invited HCCI office bearers to submit their recommendations so that the same could be brought under discussion in the meeting.

The Senior Vice President HCCI Turab Ali Khoja and Vice President Ziauddin briefed him about the bottlenecks being experienced by the business community of Hyderabad in domestic trade and manufacturing exports.

They informed that sales tax registration is essential for export business but the business community is facing difficulties in tax registration. Weboc, tax refunding, business financing, and harassment from labour department as well as deteriorated infrastructure and non availability of basic facilities are some of the problems being faced by the business community, HCCI officials said.

They said due to high tariff of gas and electricity, the cost of production has been increased and the business community is in difficult position to sale out their production. The business community of Hyderabad is not being invited for participation in international trade exhibitions which is also a major hurdle in export of manufacturing of Hyderabad, HCCI officials lamented.