Islamabad, October 22,2026: Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan on Thursday reviewed challenges facing Pakistan’s export sector with leading exporters and senior government officials, focusing on energy costs, taxation, financing, regulatory procedures and access to international markets.
The minister chaired a follow-up consultative meeting at the Ministry of Commerce, attended by Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Bilal Azhar Kayani, senior government officials and representatives of leading export businesses, who participated both in person and virtually.
The meeting reviewed concerns raised by exporters during an earlier consultation and assessed responses from relevant government departments. Discussions focused on progress made, outstanding issues and practical measures requiring further policy intervention.
Jam Kamal Khan said the government was pursuing improved access to international markets through diplomatic and trade engagements. He said Pakistan was revisiting existing trade arrangements and seeking better preferential access with major trading partners, including China, South Korea, Türkiye, Japan and Vietnam.
Regarding China, the minister said Pakistan had been advocating greater tariff concessions in line with preferential treatment extended to other countries. He added that discussions on preferential trade arrangements with South Korea were progressing, while engagement with other partners continued through diplomatic missions and bilateral consultations.
The meeting also examined market access concerns affecting Pakistani tyre exports to Türkiye. Officials said certain tyre categories already benefited from concessions under the bilateral Preferential Trade Agreement. Exporters were asked to provide product-specific details and Harmonized System (HS) codes to help the ministry pursue outstanding matters with Turkish authorities.
Industrial energy costs, particularly the gas levy, featured prominently in the discussions. Participants were informed that the Ministry of Finance had constituted a committee comprising relevant government and industry representatives to review the levy policy, its calculation formula and possible refinements.
Exporters also raised concerns over the Punjab infrastructure cess, including its application, collection mechanism and additional costs. The meeting stressed the need for greater clarity on the legal framework, exemptions and coordination with provincial authorities.
On taxation, participants discussed proposals to rationalize export-related eligibility thresholds, explore proportionate super tax relief linked to export-derived income, and address concerns regarding additional sales tax and refunds for non-traditional exporters. The proposals will be examined in consultation with the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
The meeting reviewed the Export Facilitation Scheme, including its procedural requirements and eligibility criteria, with participants proposing improvements to simplify processes and strengthen incentives under the export growth scheme.
Exporters also highlighted certification charges and repeated documentation amendment fees imposed by the Department of Plant Protection. The meeting emphasized the need to rationalize regulatory charges while ensuring institutional sustainability and avoiding unnecessary financial burdens on businesses.
Business visa restrictions, foreign travel advisories and related insurance costs were discussed as additional obstacles to export growth. Participants were informed that relevant authorities were pursuing these matters through diplomatic channels and exploring faster visa processing for verified exporters and business representatives.
The minister also emphasized the potential for expanding livestock and dairy exports, directing officials to consolidate recommendations in coordination with relevant ministries and private-sector stakeholders.
Regarding Pakistan’s GSP Plus status, participants underscored the importance of continued compliance with international commitments and sustained engagement with European partners to safeguard preferential access to the European market.
Stressing the need for tangible results, Jam Kamal Khan said effective coordination among federal ministries, provincial governments, regulatory authorities and exporters was essential to improving competitiveness. He noted that even relatively small regulatory costs and procedural hurdles could collectively undermine export performance.
Exporters were asked to submit concise written recommendations outlining specific problems, proposed solutions and required government interventions. Relevant ministries and departments were also directed to provide updated positions and timelines for resolving outstanding issues.
The Ministry of Commerce will consolidate the recommendations into a comprehensive presentation for consideration by the prime minister at an anticipated high-level meeting.
Jam Kamal Khan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustained engagement with exporters, reducing the cost of doing business, expanding international market access and strengthening Pakistan’s export-oriented economy.
