First TDAP board meeting on February 13

The much awaited first board meeting of the newly established Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) will be held on February 13 with a number of approvals to key policies and regulations on the agenda.
The board of TDAP, replacing Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), enjoying high powers is yet to meet since the inception of the TDAP last year despite the fact the first meeting was scheduled earlier on January 19 this year. However, it could not be held for lack of quorum following non-participation of its members from the government and the private sector.
"Apart from the official invitation of TDAP, Federal Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan, who is the chairman of Authority has also written letters to members of the board requesting them to ensure their presence in the first board meeting, sources told Business Recorder.
The minister also deplored the postponement of the first meeting last month due to lack of quorum and wanted each member to attend the meeting. The first board meeting is expected to take up the matters related to financial regulations and rules, human resource policies and pays and perks of employees of the TDAP and may accord approval to these issues. These policies, regulations and rules are intended to govern the working of the TDAP till the revised are approved and will be the basis of the audit by the Auditor General of Pakistan.
The 27-member board of the TDAP was formed to formulate short, medium and long-term policy for the promotion of exports by hiring consultants from the private sector.
The high-powered TDAP board includes the chief executive of TDAP, secretaries of ministries of commerce, finance, industries production and special initiatives, textile industry, food and agriculture and livestock, the CBR chairman, Board of Investment (BoI) secretary, SBP deputy governor), chief secretaries of Punjab, Sindh, NWFP, Balochistan and AJK, Presidents Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) & Overseas Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and 10 members from the private sector.
"Although the first meeting is expected to be attended by all the members, however, holding of its meeting on regular intervals in future would be difficult as it would be hard for of all members, who are from different sectors and government departments to make sure their presence due to their other engagements," source added.
He pointed out that if future meetings of the board would be delayed, it would affect the functioning of the Authority, which had been established to develop trade sector of the country and boost the country''s exports.
Under the ordinance, the board will be the supreme decision-making body of the Authority with the powers to supervise, control, direct and regulate the affairs of the ministry.
Its chief functions include establishing short, medium and long-term critical success factors, reviewing performance, approving rules, regulations and expenditure of the Authority.