Pakistan Institute of Trade and Development (PITAD): Year Book
2013-14
Foreign Trade Institute of Pakistan (FTIP) after undergoing necessary
management, organizational and governance changes formally became Pakistan
Institute of Trade and Development (PITAD) in January 2009. With the addition
of new human resource from the market, PITAD now has a new dynamic, highly
focused and professional team of researchers, analysts, trainers and support staff.
This makes PITAD a fully functional policy think tank, and training centre on
commerce related issues and international trade. PITAD is catering to the
consultancy requirements of Ministry of commerce and its attached departments
and organizations, en-covering all major stakeholders for the development of trade
in Pakistan.
Major Functions and Activities conducted by PITAD are broadly categorized as
under:
1. Capacity Building for Government and Non-Government
Organizations.
2. Policy support Research Wing. A platform for trade policy through
Lectures, seminars, conferences & Workshops.
3. Technical Assistance Management of Trade Related Initiatives (Aid
Effectiveness)
4. Trade Knowledge Hub - Knowledge Management, Information
dissemination Services.
 CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS
PITAD is the premier institution for providing capacity building services to
government officers and private sector, primarily on public policy issues of
domestic commerce and international trade. Capacity Building portfolio
includes:
1. Specialized Training Program for Commerce & Trade Officers.
2. Training for Pakistan's Commercial Attachés designated abroad.
3. Training of Newly inducted officers of Service groups other than
Commerce and Trade.
4. In-House Training for PITAD's Employees
5. Localized Foreign Trainings.
6. Internee Development Courses.
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Specialized Training Program (STP)
PITAD conducts a comprehensive (nine months) Specialized Training Program
(STP) for newly inducted Commerce and Trade Group officers of the Civil
Services of Pakistan. The STP aims at equipping the officers with the knowledge
and skills necessary to manage international trade and commercial diplomacy. Till
now, 22 batches have successfully completed STP with the 23rd batch undergoing
Common Training program at CSA Lahore till 20 June 2014 (Tentative). The
subject areas covered under the training are as follows:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
International Trade Theory
Pakistan's Economy & Foreign Trade
Multilateral Trading Systems
Trade Development in Pakistan-Policy and Practice
Global Marketing and Export Management
Management
i)
General Management
ii)
Information System and Technology
iii)
Office Management
Four officers of Commerce and Trade Group attended the 22nd STP conducted
from 15th of April 2013 to 30th of December 2013. The Probationary officers(POs)
were sent on International Training at University of Bern’s World Trade Institute
in Switzerland. The subject of the training was commercial law and Diplomacy.
The POs were sent on country study tour (CST) in Gilgit-Baltistan for 6 days. The
probationary officers during their local study tours visited chambers, associations
and industrial units of Islamabad and adjoining cities. The batch was also offered a
language course in both Spanish and French Languages from a well known
institute of Islamabad namely National University of Modern Languages (NUML)
Islamabad. Certificates for successful completion of the course were also awarded
to the Probationary officers of the 22nd STP. The batch underwent 2 weeks of
industrial attachment of various big export oriented units of the country. The
probationary officers also underwent attachment with various government
organizations including TDAP Karachi, PITAD and Chambers of Industries. The
batch passed out on 30th of December 2013. The ceremony was held in PITAD,
Islamabad. DG PITAD Pakistan was the chief guest.
Training for Pakistan's Commercial Attachés (Designates) abroad:
PITAD carries out regular trainings of Commercial Councilors abroad. These
trainings aim at capacity building and capacity utilization. Trade officers get
updated with latest data available and all trade related researches conducted.
This helps them to be more informed in assessing markets abroad. This has a
critical role in bringing synergy in trade policy and the implementation end.
No training was conducted in the previous year.
In-House Training for PITAD's Employees:
PITAD organizes regular trainings for the trainers, researchers and the
support staff. The goal of the training is different for different areas. Trainers
are further trained in training skills. So that they are able to train properly and
on the most modern and efficient lines. Further for development and teaching
of any module that is out of course, trainings inside PITAD are organized.
Researchers are trained on modern cut throat research techniques, so that the
researches conducted can create maximum value to all involved stakeholders.
Support staff is also trained for their efficient output in the smooth
functioning of the Institute.
Internee Development Courses:
PITAD is also offering internee development courses. These courses aim at
introducing the new generation with upcoming issues related to the commercial
world. PITAD provides opportunities for students and unemployed professionals to
gain experience in their field, determine if they have an interest in a particular
career and to build a network of contacts for themselves. These internships may
last from 6 to 12 weeks. Internees get experience in the field of research, which is
really helpful in the beginning of some of the very promising careers. Moreover
they also see the working of administration, along with learning the procedures of
arranging workshops and seminars.
International recognition of STP: Twining arrangements between PITAD and
WTI
PITAD and World Trade Institute Bern, Switzerland have entered into twining
arrangements under component-I of the EU funded Trade Related Technical
Assistance Program. WTI is a center of advance studies and a forum for
interdisciplinary research and teaching in international trade law and economics,
fostering interaction between studies and professionals and allowing research and
practitioners to pool their expertise with the aim of significantly contributing to
global capacity building in the field of International Trade regulations. The
purpose of these arrangements is to cooperate in Capacity Building activities
intended to augment PITAD's institutional and technical capacity as a training and
research institute in the field of International Trade. WTI assisted PITAD in STP
up gradation. WTI helped in establishing and upgrading modules for the STP, and
arrange training of the masters trainers to teach these modules. Joint certificates
were issued by the PITAD and WTI Bern for the upgraded modules of the STP at
their passing out ceremony.
Training of Government officers on Trade Policy issues:
 22 Specialized Training Program have been completed successfully for
officers of Commerce and Trade group.
 Training on Research Methodologies.
 Training on Trade and Economic Journalism for officers of Information
Services of Pakistan
 Joint WTI-PITAD Course on International Trade Law and Commercial
Diplomacy
Seminars/PPD:
 Policy Reforms to Maximize benefits from the proposed European Union
GSP plus Scheme (at Karachi).
 Enhancing competitiveness and export potential of live stock and dairy
sectors. (At Lahore).
 Enhancing trade opportunities for Pakistan in SAFTA with reference to
improved trade relations with India. (at Lahore)
 Technology up gradation and foresight in surgical and pharmaceutical
sectors (at Islamabad)
 Enhancing Exports and Competitiveness in the Horticulture( Kinnows &
Mangoes) (at Lahore & Karachi)
 PITAD conducted a series of awareness Seminars on EU GSP Plus for the
business community in collaboration with different Chambers and trade
associations at different cities including Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and
Sialkot.
 POLICY AND RESEARCH PROGRAM
PITAD as a public policy institute is focused on trade and development issues of
Pakistan. One of our major functions is to provide research based policy inputs to the
Ministry of Commerce (MOC) and other stakeholders on Pakistan's international
trade. The principal areas of our research and policy work include:
a) Trade Liberalization and its Impact on the Economy
b) Market Access Strategies and Trade Integration
c) Trade Competitiveness
d) Trade Promotion
e) Trade Facilitation
f) Comparative Analysis of Competitors Trade Policies
g) Domestic Commerce
h) Trade and Environment
 COMPLETED PROJECTS:
 Evaluation of Pakistan-China FTA Report
 Pakistan India Trade Liberalization:
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Sectoral study on Agriculture Sector
Sectoral Study on Fans Industry-India
Sectoral Study on Glass Industry
Sectoral study on Pakistani Cutlery Industry
Sectoral Study on Paper and Paperboard Industry
Sectoral Study on Surgical Sector of Pakistan
Sectoral Study on Leather Industry in Pakistan
Sectoral Study on Plastic Industry
Automobile Sector of Pakistan
Overview of Textiles, Agriculture & Pharmaceutical Sector
Pakistan India Trade Liberalization: Chemical Sector of Pakistan
Enhancing Dairy Sector Export Competitiveness
Enhancing Pakistan’s Trading Benefits From The Proposed EU GSP Plus
Scheme
 Enhancing Livestock Sector Export Competitiveness
 Trade of Industrial Goods with India: Opportunities and Challenges for
Pakistan
 Enhancing Pakistan’s Agricultural Sector Exports to India
 Technical Assistance Management of Trade Related
Initiatives (Aid Effectiveness):
Ever since the establishment of rule based multilateral trading system and its far
reaching implications, there was a dire need to create awareness and understanding
of this system in developing countries. Unfortunately most of the developing
countries lack in capacity, both human and institutional to comprehend the
complexities of rule based international trading system and Pakistan is no
exception. To this effect technical assistance from developed countries become
highly important to make their trading partners equipped with the requisite
knowledge of international trade so that they do not mislay their well deserved
trading opportunities.
The European Union (EU) is funding Trade Related Technical Assistance (TRTA)
program to provide support to Pakistan in building the necessary capacity to
address trade related issues, thereby fostering its integration into world economy
and contributing to poverty alleviation.
The European Commission (EC) previously supported a program entitled Trade
Related Technical Assistance (TRTA) for Pakistan that was completed on 30
September 2007. The project aimed at “assisting Pakistan in building the necessary
capacity to address trade-related issues, thereby fostering its integration into the
world economy and ultimately contributing to poverty alleviation”. The project
was implemented through three specialized UN agencies, namely ITC, UNIDO
and WIPO.
Based on the experience from the first economic cooperation program (TRTA-I),
coupled with regional programs and the Trade Needs Assessment, the European
Commission decided to continue to implement programs on trade-related
assistance and private sector development, including investment promotion.
Accordingly, TRTA-II with the global objective "to support sustainable
development and poverty reduction in Pakistan" was launched. The program’s
purpose is to support the economic integration of Pakistan into the global and
regional economy and to stimulate decent work and employment creation by
increasing exports and enhancing the enabling climate for international trade."
Out of 14 million EUR allocated for TRTA-II, a program for 9.5 million EUR has
been designed and approved. The proposed program TRTA-II approved is focusing
on three components:
1. Trade Policy capacity building
2. Export development through improvements of the quality
infrastructure
3. Strengthening of intellectual property rights framework and
infrastructure
At present, the need for integrating the Private Sector Development (PSD) and
export diversification on a sectoral basis has been emphasized by different
stakeholders. The Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan, therefore,
planned to undertake another formulation mission to redesign the PSD/TRA
component by adopting a more suitable approach and developing more strategic
and integrated actions. The rationale of this component is to support the productive
capacity of Pakistan's economic sectors with export potential, through well targeted
interventions, mainly at the level of effective intermediary organizations that can
deliver relevant and sustainable business development services to local enterprises.
The budget available for this component of TRTA-II, now called TRTA-III is 4.5
million EUR.
To this affect, the delegation of EU to Pakistan has engaged a consultant to
undertake needs assessment for private sector capacity building for exports with a
view to export diversification, poverty alleviation and gender participation. The
consultant together with an expert on trade from PITAD is meeting various stake
holders in the public as well as private sector to identify and prioritize sectors for
interventions, develop strategy and plan management of the program.
The delegation intends to discuss the TRTA III program with the Secretary
Commerce to get enlightened on the priority sectors for the program as well as the
strategy and management of the proposed interventions.
TRTA-III:
PITAD had participated in the formulation of TRTA-III Programme. Presently,
during the implementation phase, it is providing assistance related to coordination
and technical support to the EU Delegation.
TRTA-IV:
PITAD provided technical and secretarial assistance to the Trade Need
Assessment Mission fielded by the EU Delegation for identification and
prioritization of possible areas for TRTA-IV interventions.
 Knowledge hub and Information dissemination Services
PITAD is playing its role as a Trade Knowledge hub through its innovation
systems. These systems are characterized by their high connectedness, high internal
and external networking and knowledge sharing capabilities. PITAD as a
Knowledge hub is fulfilling three major functions: to store and generate
knowledge, to transfer knowledge to sites of application; and to transmit
knowledge to officers through education and training. All the research conducted is
in form of reports circulated among different stakeholders. Otherwise it is available
on request for academia as well. The library of the institute contains around 3330
books in printed format. Reference material is also available. Various electronic
databases including dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, directories, yearbooks,
atlases and bibliographies are a distinct feature of this collection. Along with this
library there is also a virtual library which connects PITAD with many prestigious
libraries across the globe.