Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday approved the establishment of a Trade Facilitation Board to streamline the country's trade processes and address non-tariff barriers to cross-border commerce. The prime minister will chair the board. Chairing an important meeting on trade facilitation, Shehbaz said the proposed board would take decisions to improve the entire trade supply chain and resolve cross-border trade issues. The board will prepare a roadmap for the promotion of trade, formulate a Trade Facilitation Index, and devise a mechanism to monitor progress, the meeting was informed.
The prime minister directed that work be undertaken on an emergency basis to enhance the capacity of the country's ports and ordered the establishment of various working groups for this purpose. The working groups will focus on enhancing port capacity, improving coordination among relevant departments, ensuring compliance with the regulatory framework, facilitating pre-arrival clearance, and promoting the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in international trade. He also directed that transportation, clearance, and other procedures for importers and exporters at ports be simplified, with maximum possible facilitation provided to the business community.
Chairing a review meeting on Daanish University, the prime minister directed the authorities to finalise detailed plans for the establishment of the university, along with a timeline for its construction, within two weeks. He said the institution should provide international-standard education and professional training to talented students belonging to economically disadvantaged and middle-income families. Meanwhile, in a meeting with Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Engineer Amir Muqam, who called on him, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the welfare, development, and prosperity of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan were among the government's priorities and that it would continue to take all possible measures in this regard.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also visited the Embassy of Nepal on Thursday and signed a condolence book opened in memory of the victims of the recent devastating flash floods and landslides that struck Nepal. He was received at the embassy by Ambassador Rita Dhital. In his message in the condolence book, Prime Minister Shehbaz conveyed Pakistan's deepest sympathies to the government and people of Nepal and extended heartfelt condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the tragedy, a Prime Minister's Office news release said. The prime minister announced that Pakistan would dispatch emergency relief assistance to Nepal later this week to support ongoing rescue and relief operations in flood-affected areas.
In another development, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday honoured Nurse Razia Noreen, who risked her life to save a newborn during a fire incident at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). Praising her exceptional courage, the prime minister announced that she would be awarded the Tamgha-e-Khidmat on March 23.