LAHORE, May 3: Restructuring of the Export Promotion Bureau is on the cards and its objective is to convert it into a real facilitating and a complaint-free institution. This was stated by EPB vice-chairman Zafar Mehmood at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Tuesday.

LCCI President Mian Misbahur Rehman said Pakistan needed to develop a product-specific and target-oriented marketing strategy to curtail its dependence on a few commodities and countries.

He said the expansion of export base by encouraging non-traditional sectors like gem and jewellery, engineering and agriculture was the need of the hour. The agriculture sector had the potential to earn substantial export revenue, he said.

He said the EPB could help prevent post-harvest wastage, and ensure cargo handling facilities to compete in the international market. He urged the EPB vice-chairman to give autonomy to the regional offices of the bureau for prompt disbursement of subsidies among firms participating in international trade fairs.

Subsidy should also be given to all the participants irrespective of their annual export performance, he stressed, saying the decision would help increase the export volume of Pakistan.

LCCI Senior Vice-President Sohail Lashari said there was a need to provide maximum facilities to the new exporters, as this would help improve the trade volume of the country.