KARACHI: Commerce Secretary Younus Dagha has said for the first time a National Tariff Policy (NTP) has been drafted which will be tabled to the next elected government.

“Suggestions from industrialists are required on NTP 2018-23 which is available on Ministry’s website,” he said while addressing members of the Site Association of Industry (SAI) on Friday.

He said new hydropower projects have been launched and very soon industrial tariff would appropriately be dropped down to Rs9.5 per unit from the existing Rs16.

He was of the view that industry must not be penalised by cross subsidy in utility tariff (domestic and agriculture) and in this regard his office has also amended Nepra Act.

He said trade related investment policy is under compilation, which focuses import substitution, value addition and brand development.

He asked the industrialists to provide their valuable inputs in this regard.

Dagha claimed that the declining trend of exports has now been reversed and it is expected that exports will likely go up by 14 to 15 per cent to $23.4 billion in 2017-18 ending on June 30.

SAI President Muhammad Javed Bilwani asked the commerce secretary to also look into some minor issues which are being neglected such as 24 hours movement of cargo vehicles to the ports especially to Port Qasim from Mai Kolachi. PICT, KICT and SAPT are three major ports of the city but unfortunately there are no direct links with the industries and highways.

He also requested to separate examination and inspection of import and export consignments in order to reduce clearance time.

Mr Dagha was also asked to look into the possibility of financing SITE Industrial House, which would be a mini-expo centre and in this regard SITE industrialists are ready to share the cost if seed money is provided by the Ministry of Commerce.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2018