ISLAMABAD: Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir has told the National Assembly (NA) that revenue collection from border trade has experienced a threefold increase during FY 2015-16.
During the question hour on Thursday, the minister said that the country generated duty amounting to Rs 3,017 million from the Pak-Afghan border trade, Rs 12,325 million from Pak-Iran border trade and Rs 116,274.43 million from Pak-China border trade during the last three years.
He said that they were in constant contact with Customs authorities for curbing smuggling. “All agencies are present on our borders. We have started collecting revenue from Pak-Iran borders now. There is some issue of policy in this regard,” he said, adding that the ministry would implement all recommendations made by members of the assembly in this regard.
The minister told Lower House of parliament that 11 companies were allowed to invest abroad during the last five years. He said that additional duty had been slapped on dry milk. To a question, he said that whey powder was not powdered milk, adding that it was not prepared in Pakistan. “This is used in confectionaries. Around 20,252MT whey powder was imported from France, Poland, Turkey and Ukraine during July-April 2015-16, while 264MT meat was imported by Pakistan from Malaysia, India, UAE and Saudi Arabia during July-April in 2015-16.”
Khurram Dastgir said that Pakistan had close friendly relations with Iran. “Sanctions have been lifted from Iran. There are some irritants on the banking issue due to which problems are being faced at the international level.”
He went on to say that the Iranian president visited Pakistan in March 2016 on the invitation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He said that different agreements were signed during his stay in Pakistan, and added that trade with Iran had surged.
To a question, Parliamentary Secretary on Provincial Coordination Shaheen Shafiq told the House that appointments in schools were made through the NTS. “The ministry provides funds to schools partially operating in other countries. Six schools received funds amounting to Rs 8 million were provided during FY 2013-14, Rs 9 million during FY 2014-15 and Rs 7.412 million during FY 2015-16.”