KARACHI: Pakistan has been elected to the chair of Committee on Trade & Development (CTD) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for 2021.

In a press release issued late on Thursday, the WTO General Council noted the consensus on a slate of names of chairpersons for WTO bodies, including Pakistan’s ambassador to the WTO in Geneva, Switzerland, Dr Muhammad Mujtaba Pira­cha for heading the CTD.

The CTD serves as a focal point for the consideration and coordination of work on development in the WTO. It considers a broad range of issues relating to the trade of developing countries.

In a series of tweets on Friday, Commerce Adviser Abdul Razzak Dawood said, “The Ministry of Commerce is happy to share that Pakistan has been elected to Chair the “Committee on Trade & Development (CTD)” of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for 2021. CTD was established in 1965 in GATT (now WTO) for economic development of Developing Countries...”

“...especially issues rela­ted to “Enabling Clause”, for provision of non-reciprocal trading preferences to Developing Countries, like GSP, etc. Under Pakistan’s leadership, the CTD would strive to work for expansion of trade & investment opportunities for Developing Countries. 2/2”.

In response to Mr Dawood’s tweet, Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the WTO in Geneva said, “Pakistan looks forward to making meaningful contributions for #development issues at the WTO. Congra­tulations to the new Chair!”

Meanwhile, Dr Piracha in a tweet said, “Grateful for trust reposed by all WTO membership!”

Under the terms of reference, CTD has to keep under continuous review the participation of developing country members in the multilateral trading system and to consider measures and initiatives to assist developing country members, and in particular the least-developed country members, in the expansion of their trade and investment opportunities, including support for their measures of trade liberalisation, the WTO states.

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2021