Islamabad (TDI): In a major setback for Pakistan’s export sector, Bangladesh has delivered a $20.5 million cigarette export order to Sudan after Pakistan faced extended bureaucratic delays and NGO lobbying pressure.
The deal, initially secured by Pakistan, required an amendment to the Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO), which was granted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
However, reluctance from the Ministry of Health to implement the amendment led to prolonged delays, according to media reports.
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International non-governmental organizations further complicated the process, expressing concerns over Pakistan’s cigarette exports and slowing the regulatory approvals.
As a result, Bangladesh swiftly stepped in to fulfill the order, completing the shipment to Sudan in just one month.
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Bangladesh’s prompt action underscores Pakistan’s challenges in maintaining competitiveness within the export market, where bureaucratic hurdles are proving costly for the country’s revenue potential.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
