July 06, 2006	Thursday	Jumadi-ul-Sani 9, 1427

KARACHI, July 5: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said that private sector needs to be encouraged for further boosting the exports so that the country could march on the path of development.

He was chairing a briefing held in connection with the Trade Policy 2006-07 at CM House on Wednesday. Federal Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar was also present on the occasion.

In the briefing the chief minister was informed that in the trade policy there had been zero duty on various machineries for ensuring industrial development.

It was stated that the trade policy would be spanned over next five years and there would be zero duty on agriculture machinery, dairy products, food products, rice machinery etc.Speaking on the occasion Mr Arbab said that Sindh was basically an agriculture province and, therefore, there should be zero duty on agro-base machinery.

He said his government was establishing cattle and dairy farms for which there should be minimum tax on machinery.

He disclosed that Rs1.50bn had been earmarked in the budget for agriculture development while processing zones and cold storages being constructed in seven cities for preservation of fruits and vegetables.

He sought special attention of Ministry of Commerce for solving the problems of Karachi Fish Harbour to promote shrimp export. He said commercial wings in Pakistani embassies abroad should cooperate for Pakistani exports.

Dr Arbab proposed modern packing system along with cold storages in agro-processing zones.

He referred to large-scale production of dates in Khairpur and recommended establishment of processing zone there so that dates packing process could be carried out as per international standard.—APP