December 24, 2002	Tuesday	Shawwal 19, 1423

ISLAMABAD, Dec 23: The government is likely to revise the trade policy 2002 by announcing more incentives for the enhancement of exports later this month.

Official sources told Dawn on Monday before announcing the incentives, the commerce minister, Humayun Akhtar Khan would discuss the trade policy with the senior officials of the commerce ministry on December 31.

The minister recently in a news conference has shown his displeasure over the trade policy 2002 and much delay in its implementation.

According to the official, the minister is proposing to revise upward the export target from the current $10.4 billion set for the year 2002-03.

The decisions was taken following the 15 per cent increase registered in exports during the first five months of the current financial year over the same period of the last year.

The minister would also announce the incentives for the enhancement of exports and facilitation of exporters, said the official.

The commerce minister has also worked out a comprehensive book on the revival of economy titled “blue print for economic revival”, which he circulated among the officials concerned of the commerce ministry for vetting.

The official said that necessary amendments were made in the book by various section of the commerce ministry, which would be submitted to the minister shortly.

The books talked about the impediments and bottlenecks causing hurdles in the promotion and growth of the economy and recommendations not only for their removals but also for enhancement of exports.

On the basis of this book, the commerce minister would give a detailed briefing early next year to the president, General Pervez Musharraf for considerations of the proposals and recommendation.

This presentation would be followed by giving an extensive briefing to the prime minister, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali for seeking his opinion and recommendations over the proposals for economic revival, said the official.