ISLAMABAD : Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Commerce, Senator Anusha Rahman, and Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan Alyani, have announced immediate amendments to SRO 642/24 to address key concerns of Balochistan’s business community and facilitate smoother barter trade with Iran.
Speaking during a Senate Standing Committee on Commerce meeting held in Islamabad, the leaders emphasized that removing trade and industrial barriers in Balochistan is among their top priorities. They also confirmed that steps are underway to open the Badini Business Gate, backed by a major infrastructure push.
Anusha Rahman and Jam Kamal Khan stated that the Ministry of Commerce has officially issued directives to revise SRO 642/24. Key changes include:
Import permissions extended beyond exporters;
Business consortia now allowed for bilateral trade;
All items listed in the Export and Import Policy Order permitted for import;
Removal of the requirement for attestation from Pakistan’s foreign missions;
Elimination of the “export before import” condition;
Extension of the net-off period from 90 to 120 days.
The session was attended by Senators Sheikh Bilal Khan Mandokhail, commerce officials, and representatives of the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry — Haji Muhammad Ayub Mariani and Engineer Mir Wais Khan — who joined via Zoom. They voiced the difficulties created by the original SRO, calling it a major barrier to trade with Iran.
The business representatives praised Balochistan’s Senate members for their continued advocacy, and thanked the committee for responding swiftly to their concerns.
In a significant development effort, the federal government will allocate Rs 15 billion annually through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), alongside Rs 4 billion from the provincial PSDP, for infrastructure and road development leading to the Badini border, through 2027.
“Our mission is to ensure Balochistan’s traders have access to fair opportunities,” said Senator Anusha Rahman. “Improving livelihoods through trade will also contribute to law and order.”
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to economic upliftment in Balochistan through policy reforms, regional trade facilitation, and strategic infrastructure investment
