Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Urges Government to Boost Exports and Drive Economic Growth

The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has emphasized the importance of exports in securing Pakistan's economic future, highlighting the need for an enabling environment that supports international trade. The chamber's press release stressed the elimination of unnecessary barriers, reduction of business costs, and enhancement of access for Pakistani products and services in global markets. According to the ICCI, Pakistan has significant potential in sectors such as textiles, IT, pharmaceuticals, and engineering goods, but structural challenges hinder the competitiveness of exporters.

Key Takeaways:

The ICCI has urged the government to streamline export procedures, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and offer consistent support for trade promotion initiatives on the international stage.
Nasir Mansoor Qureshi, President of ICCI, pointed out that Pakistan has significant potential in sectors such as textiles, IT, pharmaceuticals, and engineering goods, but structural challenges continue to hinder the competitiveness of exporters.
Abdul Rehman Siddiqui, the Senior Vice President, highlighted the adverse effects of high energy tariffs, rising input costs, and complex taxation systems on the profitability of industries, emphasizing the need for reforms to lower production costs and create a level playing field for exporters.
ICCI's Vice President, Nasir Mehmood Chaudhry, underscored the importance of tapping into non-traditional markets, including Africa, Central Asia, and Latin America, and advocated for greater participation of Pakistani businesses in international exhibitions and trade delegations.
The ICCI leadership reiterated their commitment to playing an active role in enhancing exports and driving economic growth, urging the government to provide robust facilitation and maintain policy consistency to strengthen Pakistan's presence in the global marketplace.
The chamber expressed its willingness to collaborate with policymakers in developing an "Export Facilitation Roadmap," which would serve as a strategic blueprint for maximizing Pakistan's trade potential on the world stage.

Statistics:

Pakistan's potential sectors: Textiles, IT, pharmaceuticals, and engineering goods
Current challenges facing exporters: Structural barriers, high energy tariffs, rising input costs, complex taxation systems
Proposed solutions: Streamlining export procedures, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, offering consistent support for trade promotion initiatives, reforming production costs and taxation systems
Target markets: Africa, Central Asia, and Latin America
ICCI's commitment to exports: 100% (as stated in the press release)