Islamabad: A delegation from the Pakistan Business Council (PBC) met with Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan on Monday to discuss critical issues affecting the business community. The discussions focused on the cost of doing business, tariff structures, and energy prices, with an eye towards enhancing industry competitiveness.

According to a statement by Press Information Department, the meeting was led by PBC Chairman Shabbir Diwan, who highlighted concerns over high energy prices, including gas and electricity, which are impacting industrial competitiveness. The delegation also voiced the need for a tariff structure that supports industry growth and called for the National Tariff Commission (NTC) to play a role in preventing dumping by foreign countries.

The minister responded by urging the PBC to submit formal proposals, promising that their suggestions would be thoroughly considered in the tariff rationalization process. He assured the delegation that the operations of the NTC would be strengthened and confirmed that energy price issues had been raised with relevant authorities.

For the first time, the Ministry of Commerce plans to conduct sector-specific discussions before submitting tariff proposals to the Finance Division. Minister Khan underscored the importance of facilitating industry to meet export goals and pledged continued government support to enhance trade.

During the meeting, Minister Khan also shared insights from his visits to Iraq, Cambodia, and South Korea, encouraging Pakistani businesses to explore trade opportunities in these developing markets. Both parties agreed to continue collaborating to address identified challenges and unlock the potential for Pakistan’s exports.