Due to the inefficiencies of the bureaucratic system, alongside the anti-tobacco campaigns of specific non-governmental organizations, Pakistan lost a cigarette export order worth $20.5 million to Sudan due to inappropriate delay on the part of the Government of Pakistan, as Bangladesh quickly filled the order.
Export Order Details
In the first place, Pakistan had won a $20.5 million cigarette export order from Sudan, but this order also called for a change in SRO. The order was amended and approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, but there were still delays caused by the Ministry of Health in implementing the changes.
The Role of NGOs
Some international non-governmental organizations focused on Pakistan’s cigarette crisis, which further delayed the approval process. This combination of bureaucratic hurdles and the presence of this order resulted in the cancellation of the order.
How Bangladesh Fulfilled the Order
Bangladesh promptly completed the order and dispatched the goods to Sudan in one month. This indicates the challenges that Pakistan is facing in sustaining its competitiveness in the export market, which is, unfortunately, becoming costly in terms of the country’s revenue potential.
Conclusion
The case suggests that there is an urgent need to turn the attention of the government toward bureaucratic hurdles that erode the proper execution of regulatory regimes, without which export-related losses are bound to be frequent.