1 (52Nd Session) NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SECRETARIAT ———— “QUESTIONS for ORAL ANSWERS and THEIR REPLIES” to Be Asked A
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1 (52nd Session) NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SECRETARIAT ———— “QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWERS AND THEIR REPLIES” to be asked at a sitting of the National Assembly to be held on Monday, the 12th February, 2018 201. *Sahibzada Tariq Ullah: (Deferred during 51st Session) Will the Minister for Foreign Affairs be pleased to state: (a) the names of countries which support Pakistan in respect of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor; and (b) the efforts made in this regard? Minister for Foreign Affairs (Khawaja Muhammad Asif): (a) & (b) CPEC is a flagship project of President Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which is aimed to promote peace and development as well as to achieve shared prosperity. This project will help create employment opportunities for thousand of Pakistanis; it will plug the energy shortfall; establish a network of infrastructure of roads and rail tracks; and develop the industrial base of Pakistan. If we see the bigger picture, CPEC will enhance connectivity of Pakistan with the adjoining regions including Central Asia, Middle East, Africa and beyond. The tangible benefits of CPEC would not be limited to the people of our two countries but people across regions would benefits from the dividends of this project. A number of countries have shown keen interest in CPEC and related projects. 2 203. *Ms. Shagufta Jumani: (Deferred during 51st Session) Will the Minister for Commerce and Textile be pleased to state: (a) the International standard of export to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio prevalent in the world at present; and (b) the year-wise Pakistan’s export to GDP ratio during the last five years? Minister for Commerce and Textile (Mr. Muhammad Pervaiz Malik): (a) No international standard or benchmark of Export to GDP Ratio is being used in the world at present. However, a higher Export to GDP Ratio depicts a healthier picture of an economy. (b) Pakistan’s year-wise Export to GDP Ratios during the last five years have been as follows: (Value in US$ Billion) —————————————————————————————— Year Exports GDP Export to GDP Ratio (% Share) —————————————————————————————— 2012-2013 24.460 231.431 10.57 2013-2014 25.110 244.690 l0.26 2014-2015 23.667 270.935 8.74 2015-2016 20.787 279.189 7.45 2016-2017 20.422 304.377 6.71 —————————————————————————————— (Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics) 1. *Shaikh Rohale Asghar: Will the Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination be pleased to state the games of which national level teams exist in the country at present? 3 Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (Mr. Riaz Hussain Pirzada): Presently, the following 38 National Sports Federations are affiliated with Pakistan Sports Board:— 1. Athletics Federation of Pakistan 2. Alpine Club of Pakistan 3. Pakistan Badminton Federation 4. Pakistan Basketball Federation 5. Pakistan Billiard & Snooker Association 6. Pakistan Bodybuilding Federation 7. Pakistan Federation Baseball 8. Pakistan Boxing Federation 9. Pakistan Bridge Federation 10. Chess Federation of Pakistan 11. Pakistan Cycling Federation 12. Equestrian Federation of Pakistan 13. Pakistan Football Federation 14. Pakistan Golf Federation 15. Pakistan Handball Federation 16. Pakistan Hockey Federation 17. Pakistan Judo Federation 18. Pakistan Ju-Jitsu Federation 19. Pakistan Karate Federation 20. Pakistan Kabaddi Federation 21. Pakistan Polo Association 22. Pakistan Netball Federation 23. National Rifle Association of Pakistan 24. Pakistan Rowing Federation 25. Pakistan Rugby Union 4 26. Pakistan Sailing Federation 27. Ski Federation of Pakistan 28. Pakistan Squash Federation 29. Pakistan Swimming Federation 30. Softball Federation of Pakistan 31. Pakistan Table Tennis Federation 32. Pakistan Taekwondo Federation 33. Pakistan Tennis Federation 34. Pakistan Tenpin Bowling Federation 35. Pakistan Volleyball Federation 36. Pakistan Weightlifting Federation 37. Pakistan Wrestling Federation 38. Pakistan Wushu Federation. All the above National Sports Federations have their national teams. They conduct annual national, junior, senior and women championships. These teams also participate in international events held at home and abroad. 2. *Ms. Nighat Parveen Mir: Will the Minister for Foreign Affairs be pleased to state the name of countries with which Pakistan has no diplomatic relations at present? Minister for Foreign Affairs (Khawaja Muhammad Asif): Pakistan has no diplomatic relations with Israel and Armenia. 3. *Ms. Asyia Naz Tanoli: Will the Minister for Foreign Affairs be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that the building of Pakistan High Commissioner in Malaysia has been sold; (b) whether tender therefor was given in the newspapers; if so, the names and addresses of newspapers thereof; 5 (c) the names and addresses of the directors of the firms/ companies applied for the purchase of said building; (d) the break-up of the rates offered by the interested firms/offices for purchase of said building; (e) the total amount collected from the said sale; (f) the names alongwith designations of the members of the Committee constituted for sale of said building; and (g) whether PPRA Rules have not been adopted/followed in the said sale by the members of the said sale Committee? Minister for Foreign Affairs (Khawaja Muhammad Asif): (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) & (g) The building of Pakistan High Commission at Kuala Lumpur has not been sold. Further, there is no proposal under consideration of selling the Government owned property in Kuala Lumpur. 4. *Shaikh Rohale Asghar: Will the Minister for Foreign Affairs be pleased to state the names of countries with which Pakistan has diplomatic relations at present? Minister for Foreign Affairs (Khawaja Muhammad Asif): We have diplomatic relations with all countries of the world except Israel and Armenia. 5. *Mrs. Shahida Rehmani: Will the Minister for Commerce and Textile be pleased to state the number of Preferential Trade Agreements signed by Pakistan since 01-01-2013 alongwith the details thereof? Minister for Commerce and Textile (Mr. Muhammad Pervaiz Malik): Pakistan has not signed any Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) since 01-01-2013. 6 6. *Ms. Zahra Wadood Fatemi: Will the Minister for Commerce and Textile be pleased to state the measures taken by the Government since June, 2013 to enhance Pakistan’s exports of non-traditional items to those countries that have not figured in our export drive campaigns? Minister for Commerce and Textile (Mr. Muhammad Pervaiz Malik): The following measures taken by the Government since June, 2013 to enhance Pakistan’s exports of non-traditional items to those countries that have not figured in our export: 1. In the wake of export promotion and enhancing product diversification in the value added sectors, the Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF), 2012-15 announced the following initiatives: a) Marketing Development Assistance for Regional countries. b) Encouraging opening of retail outlets abroad. c) Subsidizing 50% Cost of Plant and Machinery for Dates and Olive Processing. d) Subsidizing 50% cost of plant and machinery for establishing processing plants for fruits and vegetables in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). e) Mark-up subsidy @ 50% of the prevailing mark-up rate, for setting up of Meat processing plants in bordering provinces. f) Mark-up subsidy @ 100% of the prevailing mark-up rate and 50 % subsidy for wire saw cutting machinery to reduce wastages for establishing mining and processing in KPK, GB and Baluchistan. 2. Under the Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF), 2015-18, special focus has been given on the development of non-traditional export products. The initiatives inter-alia include: 7 a) Technology Up-gradation: An incentive for technology up-gradation in the shape of investment support of 20% of Rs. 1 (one) million per annum per company. b) Mark-up support of 50% upto a maximum of Rs. 1 (one) Million per annum per company for import of new plant and machinery of Rs. 1 (one) million per annum per company. c) Product Development: Matching grant upto a maximum of Rs. 5 (five) Million for specified plant and machinery or specified items to improve product design and encourage innovation in SMEs and export sectors of leather, pharmaceutical and fisheries. d) Branding & Certification Development Support: Matching grant to facilitate the branding and certification for faster growth of the SME and export sector in Pakistan’s economy through Intellectual Property Registration (including trade and service marks), Certification and Accreditation. e) Draw-back for local taxes and levies (DLTL): DLTL is being given to exporters on free on board (FOB) values of their enhanced exports if increased by 10% and beyond (over last year’s exports) at the rate of 4% on increased exports. 3. In order to improve the competitiveness of export oriented sectors through value addition, the restructuring and strengthening of Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company (PHDEC), Strengthening of Skill Development Institutes (funded under EDF) and creation of new sector-specific Export Promotion Councils in Leather Rice and pharmaceutical sectors are underway. 4. The Government announced Export Enhancement Package of PKR 180 billion for boosting exports, which is applicable for about 18 months from 16th January, 2017 to 30th June, 2018. This incentive was enhanced further vide Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet decision dated 6th October 2017 to encourage exports of textile and non-textile items to non- traditional markets. Salient features of the package are as under: 8 a. 50 percent of the rate of incentive for the eligible textile and non-textile sectors already announced in the PM package shall be provided on the same terms as for the period January to June, 2017 without condition of increment. b. Remaining 50 percent of the rate of incentive shall be provided, if the exporter achieves an increase of 10 percent or more in exports as compared to corresponding period of the last year. c. An additional 2% drawback shall be provided for exports to non-traditional markets i.e. Africa, Latin America, non- EU European countries, Commonwealth of Independent States and Oceania as given in sub-paras (a) and (b), above.