I make an appeal to the Ministry of Commerce to move for duty-free export (zero-rated duty) on Pakistani goods to USA and EU countries as similar facilities were given to Sri Lanka and other countries when they faced the tsunami crisis.
This is a matter of urgency and I am confident that no time will be wasted in making this representation to USA and other governments to allow Pakistani imports at zero percent till such time Pakistan is in a position to re-establish infrastructure and provide homes to 2.5 million people whose houses have been totally destroyed by the earthquake.
It may be recollected that in case of other tsunami countries 1.5 million people were rendered homeless. Catastrophe in Pakistan is of much greater dimension and providing support to Pakistani export will contribute to self-reliant measures of our own country to some extent.
The government should move the matter with great urgency.
(The writer is Chairman, Soorty Enterprises.)