RAWALPINDI: The Advisory Council of the Ministry of Commerce has recommended that an endeavour should be made to maintain the liberal pattern of the import policy within the resources available.

Opening the session here yesterday, Commerce Secretary Osman Ali said that the Government and trade bodies should continue to intensify efforts to diversify and expand exports “as there can be no liberal import policy without the expansion of foreign exchange earnings”.

The total value of exports during the July-December 1961 period had registered an increase of Rs106m compared to the corresponding period last year, the meeting was told. The rise of the value of export is ascribed to the various export incentive schemes undertaken by the Government to raise foreign exchange earnings. The total value of exports during the period was estimated at Rs991m while the exports during the corresponding period last year were worth Rs885m.

The Council reviewed the trade and commercial position obtaining in the country during the January-June 1962 shipping period. During the current shipping period, the Government introduced the export credit guarantee scheme which is bound to have far-reaching effects on Pakistan’s export trade.—Agencies

Provincial Assemblies set to meet on June 9

RAWALPINDI: The Governors’ Conference, yesterday decided that the budget sessions of the East and West Pakistan Assemblies should begin simultaneously at Dacca and Lahore on June 9. —Staff Correspondent