How to make "MADE IN
PAKISTAN" label the best seller in the
export market, is a
pertinent issue which has to be addressed both by the public and private sectors in
Pakistan.
Huge Export Development Fund (EDF), lying with the government, can be utilized for hiring
services of internationally known designers to give an international look to locally made
products especially leather jackets, footwear, sports goods, fashion apparels, precious
stone studded jewellery. Franchise of reputed marketing companies can do a magic in
marketing indigenous food products such as rice, fruit and fruit juices.
TELEPHONE DIRECTORY
Phone companies, the
worldover, publish and provide telephone directories to their subscribers free-of-cost.
Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation Limited (PTCL), the state-owned enterprise, also
publishes directory once every two years. However, it has failed to honour its customary
obligation to the subscribers due to unscrupulous practices last year. The PAGE exclusive
highlights what has caused the delay.
GOLD
In early May, UK announced
plans to sell 415 tonnes of its gold reserves over several years. In the first phase of
its plans, on June 6, it auctioned 25 tonnes of gold sending international gold prices to
a twenty-year low. During the last two months gold prices in Pakistan also dipped by over
Rs 250 per tola (11.54 grams). However, the decline in prices has failed to make any
significant impact on the gold and jewellery sales in Pakistan.
INCOME TAX PROVISIONS
PAGE looks
at the provisions of Finance Act 1999. While there was an effort to increase tax
collection, many of the amendments will have a negative impact on the corporate sector.
CBR should have tried to bring more people under tax net rather taxing the already
burdened tax payers.
KESC
KESC has been forced to
reduce its power tariff at a time it needs 19.26% increase in the tariff to meet loan
covenant. The corporation, despite financial structuring has not been able to improve its
revenue due to 45% T&D losses.
