May 11, 2002	Saturday	Safar 27, 1423

ISLAMABAD, May 10: The government is likely to do away with the condition of import licence for imports in the forthcoming budget for 2002-3.

Official sources told Dawn on Friday that the decision was expected to be announced in the budget.

The conditionality of import licensing will be abolished in certain areas, the officials said and added the government wanted to boost the export of certain products.

Similarly, the government has also decided to abolish the formality of registering importers.

The decision was believed to have been taken following the issue was raised and discussed during the Pakistan’s second trade policy review in January last.

The import licensing introduced through a presidential ordinance in 1950 was aimed at restricting the import of goods into the country. A separate institution was established for the issuance of licences to importers following the fulfilment of certain conditionalities.

But, the officials said the government due to the international pressure particularly of the International Monetary Fund abolished that institution.

Following the abolishing of that institution, the government authorized the Ministry of Commerce to issue licence for the import of certain goods.

During the Pakistan trade review, an objection was raised by many countries that importers were facing problems in getting licences for importing goods.