Islamabad (GNP): The fifth meeting of the Prime Minister’s Committee to Review the Export Facilitation Scheme (EFS) took place at the Finance Ministry’s Q Block, chaired by Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani. Senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) attended, along with representatives of exporters’ associations, including APTMA, PTEA and the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and several prominent exporters.
The committee examined proposed amendments intended to make the scheme simpler, more predictable and better suited to exporters’ day-to-day needs, while tightening risk-based oversight.
The review aims to lower compliance costs and export-related overheads, encourage new investment and local value addition, and ensure that concessions are tied to real export performance. Kayani said eligibility criteria and prescribed procedures must be applied uniformly, with no exemptions.
Particular attention went to simplifying how exporters are categorised, rationalising authorisation periods, and widening access to the scheme for both new and existing exporters. Participants also discussed easing the process for compliant exporters, introducing a transparent mechanism and streamlining security requirements, while keeping adequate safeguards against misuse.
The revisions are meant to cut compliance costs, attract investment, support export growth and keep the scheme responsive to exporters’ needs.
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Kayani said procedures should be simplified without weakening revenue safeguards, and reiterated the government’s commitment to continued consultation with exporters and trade bodies.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
