PESHAWAR: The Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry has appointed Ahmad Jawad as the chairman of its regional standing committee on horticulture exports for 2017.

According to a statement issued here on Saturday, the appointment was made in light of Mr. Jawad’s overwhelming contribution to and efforts for the revival of the horticulture sector.

Mr. Jawad had served as the chairman of the FPCCI’s standing committee on horticulture sector at regional and central levels in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

The statement said Pakistan’s horticulture sector had immense potential and therefore, the FPCCI highlighted it before the government to address the issues of exporters.

Mr. Jawad said exporters could immediately raise the volume of Pakistan’s horticulture exports to $1 billion if the government supported them.

Says government should give sector incentives for development

He said the country’s horticulture exports amounted to $641 million in 2015-16.

“If we look at the horticulture sector internationally, it has been gaining importance in the world trade for the last two decades. The fact is that in recent years, developing countries have created a space for themselves in this market but they are not able to move beyond four to five per cent of share in world trade. In comparison, Pakistan’s share in it is just 0.3 per cent,” he said.

The committee chairman said under the Strategic Trade Policy Framework for 2015-18, a short-term export enhancement strategy had been developed under which the commerce ministry had identified four areas, including horticulture, but unfortunately, no incentive had been announced for them in the Rs180 billion worth of Prime Minister’s Exporters Incentive Package.

He said the government should admit that the horticulture sector hadn’t received its attention it deserved.

Mr. Jawad said the government should provide five per cent incentive on freight-on-board value and a three-year holiday from the 1.25 per cent tax, including withholding tax, to strengthen the sector.

Published in Dawn January 22nd, 2017