October 5, 2003	Sunday	Sha’aban 8, 1424

ISLAMABAD, Oct 4: The government has decided to hire international consultants to develop joint ventures between Pakistani and international companies.

A senior official told Dawn on Saturday that the decision among others was taken in a Trade Policy review meeting presided over by Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan.

According to the official, as a first step the ministry would hire around 15 international consultants for the purpose. The funding would be allocated from Export Development Fund (EDF).

The commerce minister also approved the establishment of warehouses in the United States, the United Kingdom, Kenya, Sharjah, Poland and some other countries. Under the scheme, the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) would offer such warehouse space to exporters free of cost for the first five years, extendible on a case to case basis for a second term.

The official quoted the minister as saying that there was no need for creating an upgradation funds. The EDF would finance projects identified in the Trade Policy.

The minister also approved the establishment of special exports zones in Karachi and Punjab.