ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's coalition administration on Saturday expressed willingness to hold political negotiations with former prime minister Imran Khan, though it criticized him for imposing preconditions while pointing out that talks and threats did not go hand in hand.
Khan asked the country's coalition administration a day earlier to sit and talk to his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and announce a date for early elections or face the dissolution of assemblies in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
The former prime minister, who has been seeking snap polls in the country since his ouster from power in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April, announced his decision at a recent rally to dissolve the two provincial legislatures to intensify pressure on the government to hold early elections.
"They should sit with us for unconditional negotiations," Pakistan's railway minister Khawaja Saad Rafique was quoted as saying by Geo News.
He noted it was PTI that needed to initiate political parleys at this stage, not the government.
"Negotiations are part of political process and complex problems are resolved when two sides hear each other out," he said, adding: "If Imran Khan is serious then he should understand that threats and negotiations are mutually exclusive."
Rafique maintained that his party wanted the "assemblies to complete their constitutional term."
He noted that even Khan was driven out of power "in a constitutional and democratic way."
Later, Khan reiterated while speaking to members of his parliamentary party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa he was willing to talk to the government if was prepared to announce the date for early elections.
He added the PTI would dissolve the provincial assemblies in the ongoing month.
Government expresses willingness to hold 'unconditional negotiations' with Pakistan's ousted PM
https://arab.news/pfh59
Government expresses willingness to hold 'unconditional negotiations' with Pakistan's ousted PM
- Khan told the government to announce the date for early elections or face dissolution of two provincial assemblies
- A senior government minister tells the former prime minister that threats and negotiations could not go hand in hand
Pakistan footwear sector flags used imports as barrier to export growth
- Industry says production capacity far exceeds domestic consumption, signaling export potential
- Its delegation tells commerce minister up to 40 percent of domestic market met through used shoe imports
KARACHI: Pakistan’s leather and footwear industry has warned that rising imports of used shoes are distorting the domestic market and limiting export growth, according to a commerce ministry statement issued on Thursday after industry representatives met Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan.
The meeting focused on export potential, domestic market challenges and regulatory concerns linked to the import of second-hand footwear, which industry leaders say is undermining local manufacturers despite significant production capacity.
“Pakistan’s annual footwear consumption is estimated at around 550 million pairs, while the country has an installed production capacity of nearly 700 million pairs annually, indicating significant potential for both domestic supply and export expansion,” the delegation said, according to the commerce ministry statement.
“A considerable portion of this capacity remains underutilized due to market distortions created by the growing influx of used footwear imports,” it added.
Industry representatives told the minister that around 30-40 percent of Pakistan’s domestic footwear market is currently supplied through imports of used shoes, many of which enter the country under the broader customs category of used clothing and accessories.
They said branded footwear is often imported at very low declared values under this classification, creating what they described as unfair competition for domestic manufacturers.
To address the issue, the delegation proposed introducing a separate Harmonized System (HS) code for used footwear, which would allow regulators to better track imports, improve customs valuation and introduce sector-specific regulatory measures.
The commerce ministry said the proposal has been placed on the agenda of the Tariff Policy Board and could eventually be considered as part of the upcoming federal budget following consultations and approvals.
The commerce minister acknowledged the importance of the leather and footwear sector as a potential export driver and reiterated the government’s support for local manufacturing and export-led growth, the statement said.
He also encouraged industry stakeholders to expand exports while ensuring locally produced footwear remains affordable for domestic consumers.
Both sides agreed to maintain close coordination to help the sector boost employment, increase production and expand Pakistan’s presence in international footwear markets.
