NTC Pakistan to be Restructured as Think-Tank: PM
By Sheeraz Aslam 'Pakistan Times' Special Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Friday said that the National Tariff Commission will be restructured to work as a think-tank to provide necessary tariff advisory services to the government in keeping with the global and local tariff requirements.

He was chairing a high-level meeting on restructuring of National Tariff Commission held at the Prime Minister House this afternoon.

The Prime Minister said NTC should provide necessary research and development facility to the government to advise towards making medium and long term tariff policies to help the local industry grow as well as enhance trade.

He said NTC has an important role in protection of domestic industry through appropriate adjustments in import tariffs. He said that tariff regime throughout the world is changing as the trade and tariffs barriers are being adjusted in line with the new trade regime.

The Prime Minister said that NTC should be a lean, professional organization with the necessary manpower having relevant skills needed to accomplish the job.

Shaukat Aziz also directed the NTC to focus on capacity building and skill development of its staff to enable them to deliver more efficiently and effectively.

The Prime Minister directed the NTC to bench-mark the Pakistani tariffs structure and laws in relation to other countries so as to have a better perspective of the laws and the best practices implemented throughout the world.

He said that NTC should collaborate and consult with the countries with best tariff laws so that Pakistan laws may be modified and amended. He said that this is necessary to help evolve the laws in the light of the best practices throughout the world.

The Prime Minister also constituted a four-member committee comprising Chairman National Tariff Commission, Chairman CBR, Secretary Commerce Division and Secretary Industries Division to recommend a plan for reinventing and determining new role for the NTC.

Earlier the Chairman NTC, Dr. Faizullah Khilji gave a detailed presentation on the functions and proposed reorganization of the Commission.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Commerce Humayun Akhtar Khan, Minister for Industries Jahangir Khan Tareen, Minister of State for Finance Omar Ayub Khan, Chairman CBR and other officials.●