KARACHI, Aug 15: Finance division secretary-general and Central Board of Revenue chairman Abdullah Yousuf said the industry had to improve its efficiency to make itself competitive in the world market. There could be no other way to become competitive except by improving efficiency, increasing productivity by imparting skills in workforce and cutting overheads at every level, he observed.

Speaking at a ceremony of awarding gold medal organised by the Pakistan Yarn Merchants’ Association (PYMA) in recognition of services of Zubair Motiwala on Sunday, Mr Yousuf said the government could not cut gas prices as it had to maintain balance with the international prices. Above all, he said the government could not deviate from its commitment given at the international level on gas prices and if any country was giving gas at reduced rates, the same could not be done by Pakistan.

“Already we are giving gas at 50 per cent less than the actual cost and if the industry wants to become competitive it will have to improve its efficiency and impart skills in labour to enhance its productivity,” Mr Yousuf asserted.

He said further that the government was already taking measures to reduce cost of doing business in the country and in this direction a major step was being taken for developing the National Trade Corridor (NTC). “Once in operation the NTC will reduce the content of transportation cost in the total cost.”

In this regard, he said the customs had already took initiative and after introducing CARe as a pilot project at the KICT within next three to four months it would also be launched at the PICT and the QICT. This will enable importers and exporters to clear their goods within four hours.

He suggested that both the private and public sectors had to take all such measures in their respective areas that could help reduce cost of doing business. He said that if there was a lot to be done by the government, similarly the private sector had also to do even more by enhancing efficiency and productivity.

Referring to a point raised by PYMA chairman Ashraf Sattar in his address of welcome, he said the case of anti-dumping duty on polyester fibre was presently pending before the National Tariff Commission (NTC) and therefore he could not make any comments.

The CBR chairman lauded the services rendered by Zubair Motiwala and said he contributed to guiding the government on many occasions regarding policies relating to trade and industry.