March 5, 2003	Wednesday	Muharram 1, 1424

ISLAMABAD, March 4: Commerce Minister, Humayun Akhtar Khan said on Tuesday that the problems faced by textile exporters would be resolved as soon as possible.

The minister gave this assurance in a meeting with members of Quota Supervisory Council (QSC) and the officials of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and the Commerce Ministry here.

The meeting was convened to discuss problems of textile exporters and post-quota scenario after 2004.

The members of the Quota Supervisory Council apprised the Minister about the hurdles faced by textile exporters, particularly in the international market.

They discussed various issues with the minister such as over-shipments to the US and compensation for the exporters whose shipments were embargoed in the US.

The minister asked the participants to chalk out a strategy for neutralizing the effects of past over-shipments in order to safeguard the credibility of Pakistani exporters.

The commerce minister accepted the request of the genuine exporters whose products were embargoed by the US government.

However, the final decision in this context would be taken after the supply of relevant data by the EPB, said the minister.

He asked the exporters to increase the exports of low-utilized textile categories.

Aziz Memon, Chairman of QSC thanked the Minister for his proactive and export-friendly attitude.

Tariq Ikram, Chairman EPB and Khalid Saeed, Additional Secretary In-charge of Commerce Ministry were also present in the meeting.

Meanwhile, in a meeting with Lakhdar Brahimi, UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy to Afghanistan, Commerce Minister, Humayun Akhtar said Pakistan is keen to strengthen trade relations with Afghanistan, one of its most important neighbours.

“We are well-aware of the political as well as economic importance of Afghanistan,” the minister said.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed Pakistan-Afghan trade relations and the issue of Afghan Transit Trade (ATT).

With regard to Afghan Transit Trade, the commerce minister informed the envoy that Pakistan government would soon review the list of negative items.

The UN Envoy thanked the Pakistan government for taking keen interest in the rebuilding and development of Afghanistan. —APP