ISLAMABAD:

Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce, visited the National Tariff Commission (NTC) headquarters in Islamabad to assess its mandate, operational functions, and institutional capacity, said an official statement released on Thursday.

During the visit, the NTC chairman and senior officials briefed the PM’s aide on the commission’s core responsibilities, which include advising the government on tariff policy and enforcing trade remedy laws such as anti-dumping duties, countervailing measures, and safeguards. The discussions highlighted NTC’s role in shielding domestic industries from unfair international trade practices — a key pillar of Pakistan’s trade strategy. The meeting also provided a forum for candid discussions, with NTC officials outlining institutional challenges and proposing measures to enhance operational effectiveness.

Afzal Khan commended the commission’s efforts and reiterated the government’s determination to bolster its capabilities. He pledged full support to modernise the NTC, stressing the urgency of digitisation to streamline processes and improve decision-making efficiency. “The NTC must evolve into a data-driven, tech-enabled institution to effectively safeguard Pakistan’s economic interests in an increasingly complex global trade landscape,” the coordinator asserted.