Ex FPCCI President demands implementation of GI law to flourish export pattern.

PESHAWAR -- Former vice president of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Muhammad Riaz Khattak on Thursday forwarded a request to Government to formulate strategies that could decrease the country's dependence on traditional exports.

Keeping in view the changing global needs,shift needed in the composition of Pakistani exports which means promotion of high/medium technology exports, focus on non-traditional sector and agriculture.

Similarly there is a dire need that the government should implement early the Geographical Indication (GI) Protection Law after consultation with relevant federal and province ministries and holding awareness programs for traders, industrialists and farmers to ensure registration and protection of their products, which will help in enhancing exports.

Currently Pakistani exporters are facing non-tariff barriers in safety and quality standards under the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement.

'There is also a need to shift from inward orientation to an outward looking economy as it puts a greater emphasis on exports to achieve high and sustainable growth. Pakistan should adopt different contours of an export oriented strategy in order to remain competitive in international market, especially with regards to countries like India and Bangladesh.'

'SMEs are the...