ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf directed the Ministry of Commerce to put up a proposal for establishing Trade Dispute Resolution Councils for resolution of complaints lodged by importers of Pakistani goods so that international trade could be encouraged.

The Prime Minister was talking to a seven-member delegation of UK Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which called on him at the Prime Minister’s House on Tuesday.
Thanking the delegation for putting up the proposal for establishing of Trade Dispute Resolution Councils, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that this would encourage international trade.
The Prime Minister said that overseas Pakistanis have earned a name abroad by dint of hard work and “we are proud of them”.
The Prime Minister said that despite challenges, the country is moving forward. He said, “The economic indicators show rise in foreign exchange reserves and government has been successful in restricting the inflation to a single digit.” These, he said, were no mean achievements. “Pakistan has become a wheat exporting country now whereas it was importing wheat in 2008,”he said.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan has business friendly policies and it would be up to the investors to make investment in any sector of their choice.
During the meeting, he informed the delegation that the government had made all necessary preparations to qualify for GSP Plus, which would give boost to trade with EU countries. The PM also welcomed a proposal for utilizing the services of successful businessmen abroad, who are of Pakistani origin for promoting exports of Pakistan.
The meeting was attended by Abbas Khan Afridi, Minister of State for Commerce, and senior officials.