STRATEGIC ECONOMIC POLICY
MULTAN,,March 2nd:The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet here on Monday approved 17 changes in the Strategic Trade Policy Framework through amendments in its legal instruments i.e. Export Policy Order (EPO) 2009 and Import Policy Order (IPO) 2009.
The decision was made in an attempt to provide legal basis for placing a formal ban on export or transshipment of nuclear materials, missile parts, and biological weapons from Pakistan and subject export, re-export, transshipment and transit of the all control list commodities as part of the Trade Policy 2011. ECC met in the Prime Minister Secretariat with Dr Hafeez Shaikh in the chair. Earlier, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had on the request of the Ministry of Commerce approved the 17 regulatory changes as part of the Trade Policy 2011 under the broader Strategic Trade Policy Framework 2010-13.
The approved amendments: To implement these regulatory changes, Ministry of Commerce has amended the IPO 2009 and EPO 2009. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had proposed that banned and restricted items provided in EPO may not be allowed for export under the said provisions unless otherwise authorised by the Ministry of Defence. At present, EPO does not regulate the export of banned and restricted items such as nuclear materials, missile parts, and biological weapons. Keeping in view the proposal submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce has made changes in the EPO under which the export of nuclear materials, missile parts, and biological weapons would not be allowed. The changes introduced in the EPO stated, “Any goods transshipped at a port in Pakistan having been manifested for such transshipment at the time of dispatch from a port outside Pakistan.” “Incase of any goods stores and equipments when sold abroad on government to government basis are exported under export authorization issued by authorized officer of the Ministry of Defence.”
Ministry of Foreign Affairs had also proposed to the Commerce Ministry that a separate para may be included in Export Policy Order 2009 such as “ Export of Control Lists Commodities, export-re-export, transshipment and transit of all the commodities notified in control list vide SRO 1078 (i) 2005 shall be in accordance with Export Control (Licensing and Enforcement) Rules 2009 notified SRO 450 (i) 2009. Keeping in view the proposal Ministry of Commerce has incorporated amendment in EPO stating that export-re-export, transshipment and transit of all the control list commodities will be in accordance with the rules notified under the said Statutory Regulation Orders (SROs).A change announced in Import Policy Order 2009, Ministry of Commerce has removed the ban and allowed import of ring blaster tools, bolder ballistic guns, riveting tools and their cartridges for use by the cement industry. This import would be subject to the clearance from the Ministry of Interior. The government has banned the import of used cooking oil in the garb of soap stock to eliminate any chance for its sale and use for cooking purposes. Another amendment was made in IPO 2009, in which the ministry has allowed the construction companies to retain temporarily imported machinery and equipments on permanent basis after payment of all applicable taxes and duties.
Ministry of Commerce has allowed free import of Olympic standard air guns by the sportsmen to facilitate them prepare themselves for international events. Earlier this import was restricted for only specified associations. Ministry has increased the sample vehicles value from $50,000 to $100,000 being sent abroad to the principals for quality check to facilitate the local auto industry.
To remove the difficulty at the time of import, the Ministry of Commerce has inserted a new definition of “New Vehicles” in the IPO. “The term New Vehicles means vehicles manufactured during last 12 months preceding the date of importation and also must not be registered or used prior to importation.” Ministry of Commerce has subjected the import of bulletproof raw materials like bulletproof glass, used in bulletproof vehicles with authorisation of Ministry of Interior.
To counter the fake cigarette manufacturing in Pakistan, the government has restricted the import of cigarette manufacturing paper only by the cigarette manufacturers registered with FBR. Toys imported into Pakistan have been subjected with a certification from exporting country that such are free from hazardous elements.
The decision was made in an attempt to provide legal basis for placing a formal ban on export or transshipment of nuclear materials, missile parts, and biological weapons from Pakistan and subject export, re-export, transshipment and transit of the all control list commodities as part of the Trade Policy 2011. ECC met in the Prime Minister Secretariat with Dr Hafeez Shaikh in the chair. Earlier, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had on the request of the Ministry of Commerce approved the 17 regulatory changes as part of the Trade Policy 2011 under the broader Strategic Trade Policy Framework 2010-13.
The approved amendments: To implement these regulatory changes, Ministry of Commerce has amended the IPO 2009 and EPO 2009. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had proposed that banned and restricted items provided in EPO may not be allowed for export under the said provisions unless otherwise authorised by the Ministry of Defence. At present, EPO does not regulate the export of banned and restricted items such as nuclear materials, missile parts, and biological weapons. Keeping in view the proposal submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce has made changes in the EPO under which the export of nuclear materials, missile parts, and biological weapons would not be allowed. The changes introduced in the EPO stated, “Any goods transshipped at a port in Pakistan having been manifested for such transshipment at the time of dispatch from a port outside Pakistan.” “Incase of any goods stores and equipments when sold abroad on government to government basis are exported under export authorization issued by authorized officer of the Ministry of Defence.”
Ministry of Foreign Affairs had also proposed to the Commerce Ministry that a separate para may be included in Export Policy Order 2009 such as “ Export of Control Lists Commodities, export-re-export, transshipment and transit of all the commodities notified in control list vide SRO 1078 (i) 2005 shall be in accordance with Export Control (Licensing and Enforcement) Rules 2009 notified SRO 450 (i) 2009. Keeping in view the proposal Ministry of Commerce has incorporated amendment in EPO stating that export-re-export, transshipment and transit of all the control list commodities will be in accordance with the rules notified under the said Statutory Regulation Orders (SROs).A change announced in Import Policy Order 2009, Ministry of Commerce has removed the ban and allowed import of ring blaster tools, bolder ballistic guns, riveting tools and their cartridges for use by the cement industry. This import would be subject to the clearance from the Ministry of Interior. The government has banned the import of used cooking oil in the garb of soap stock to eliminate any chance for its sale and use for cooking purposes. Another amendment was made in IPO 2009, in which the ministry has allowed the construction companies to retain temporarily imported machinery and equipments on permanent basis after payment of all applicable taxes and duties.
Ministry of Commerce has allowed free import of Olympic standard air guns by the sportsmen to facilitate them prepare themselves for international events. Earlier this import was restricted for only specified associations. Ministry has increased the sample vehicles value from $50,000 to $100,000 being sent abroad to the principals for quality check to facilitate the local auto industry.
To remove the difficulty at the time of import, the Ministry of Commerce has inserted a new definition of “New Vehicles” in the IPO. “The term New Vehicles means vehicles manufactured during last 12 months preceding the date of importation and also must not be registered or used prior to importation.” Ministry of Commerce has subjected the import of bulletproof raw materials like bulletproof glass, used in bulletproof vehicles with authorisation of Ministry of Interior.
To counter the fake cigarette manufacturing in Pakistan, the government has restricted the import of cigarette manufacturing paper only by the cigarette manufacturers registered with FBR. Toys imported into Pakistan have been subjected with a certification from exporting country that such are free from hazardous elements.
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