Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the WTO Speaks at LSE

H.E. Dr. M. Mujtaba Piracha, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the WTO gave an enlightening talk at the Lahore School Of Economics on Thursday, November 17. Dr. Piracha discussed and answered questions about the importance of the World Trade Organisation to international trade negotiations to developing economies such as Pakistan, the state behind the scenes, and how global events can and do shape the direction that prospective free trade agreements can take.

While the WTO is a means by which developing countries are able to open up trade and develop or implement FTAs, it is important to be part of a coalition, and Pakistan does do coalition-building, said Dr. Piracha – with SAARC, India, Sri Lanka (on fishing, for example), and so on.

When asked if there were areas where Pakistan could have an advantage in terms of selling and trading, Dr. Piracha pointed out that Pakistan exports, on average US$400 million worth of ocean fish internationally, but has missed out on being a greater “bread, butter, and fruit” basket for export.

Other nations have been able to navigate the WTO system for decades, due to developing the infrastructural and research firepower. Dr. Piracha hoped that the WTO Chairs Programme – which the Innovation and Technology Centre at LSE was the only Pakistani institution chosen to represent – would boost research capabilities and awareness about the role played by the WTO in strengthening and enhancing Pakistan’s trade capabilities.