Ambitious $60bn three-year target set, despite exporters’ concerns on taxation structure

The government has set a new ambitious export target of $60 billion over the next three years despite changes to the tax structure in the budget that have sparked widespread discontent among the country’s exporters. Commerce ministry officials craft presentations to support the wishes of every new government without considering the practical challenges faced by the export sector and the export earnings projections of international lenders. Official sources informed Dawn on Monday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with his economic team, which included Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, to discuss improving the country’s export earnings.