Press Release Title: Senator Anusha Rahman Ahmad Khan, Chairperson Senate Standing Committee on Commerce presiding over a meeting of the committee at Parliament Lodges, Islamabad

Press Release Date: 6th May, 2025

A high-stakes meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Commerce, chaired by Senator Anusha Rehman, discussed mechanisms to achieve the export tatgets set by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif with a particular focus on the  barter trade mechanism with Iran. Present at the meeting were Senators Sarmad Ali, Faisal Saleem Rehman, Bilal Ahmed Khan, Hamid Khan, Amir Waliuddin Chishti, Saleem Mandviwalla, Zeeshan Khanzada, and Muhammad Tallal Badar, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce, representatives from the private sector, and international trade officers posted abroad. The committee directed the Ministry of Commerce to fast track summaries initiated for barter trade and for the import policy order. Committee members directed the ministry to resolve the confusion on trade with Iran  Russia and Afghanistan through a  barter system, vs the parallel trade ongoing under IPO. Senator Saleem Mandviwalla reiterated the strategic importance of barter trade in tackling cross-border smuggling, stating: “Barter trade from Iran and Afghanistan will help prevent smuggling.” Affected traders added that over 1,200 trucks have been stalled at the border, loaded under barter terms, with sesame and rice exported without involving dollar payments. The committee agreed to hold a meeting with the Finance Minister, Commerce Minister, and Governor State Bank. Formation of a sub-committee comprising of Senators Zeeshan Khanzada , Sarmad Ali and Faisal Rahman to provide recommendation on the tobacco sector was approved.  It was agreed that the issue of counterfeit medicines will be reviewed by the Standing Committee on Health. Trade and Investment Officers (TIOs) posted abroad also briefed the committee on potential trade opportunities, marking a continued commitment to expanding Pakistan’s global trade footprint.