Karachi: The Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) has endorsed the Prime Minister's ambitious plan to increase Pakistan's exports to 60 billion dollars over the next six years. However, KATI President Johar Kandahari emphasized the need for significant reforms, including reductions in production costs and improved government policies, to achieve this goal.

According to Korangi Association of Trade and Industry, the new directive from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to boost exports was a main topic at the recent Export Board meeting. Kandahari highlighted the urgency of addressing high production costs, particularly in terms of electricity, gas, and interest rates, to support exporters. He also pointed out the challenges posed by delays in refund payments by the Federal Board of Revenue, which have compounded the difficulties faced by industrialists.

Kandahari praised the achievement of the IT sector, which reached exports of 3.2 billion dollars, and advocated for similar incentives across other key sectors such as textiles, rice, surgical equipment, leather, and fruits and vegetables. He warned that without eliminating taxes and reducing production costs in the upcoming budget, reaching the 60 billion dollar target would not only be challenging but could potentially plunge export industries into crisis. Kandahari stressed the importance of resolving these long-standing industrial issues to fully harness the sector's potential and meet the national export targets.