Fate of six years old World Trade Organisation (WTO) Cell at the Planning and Development (P&D) department is hanging in the balance right now, with 80 percent chances of its closing down because of highly dissatisfactory performance of its officials.
The Punjab government has already made an expense of over Rs 50 million from 2005-06 onwards and further allocations, either under the head of development or non-development fund, are pending till the authority concerned decides about the future of this cell.
Evaluation report of the cell has already been submitted to the Secretary P&D, who has raised objections about the existence of the cell and enquired from the head of the cell on the need of the WTO Cell under the P&D department of the Punjab government.
It may be noted that the WTO Cell had earned extraordinary popularity back in 2002-03 when one former World Bank-fame dynamic person Dr Inam-ul-Haq constituted it in Punjab. Both the provincial governments in Sindh and Balochistan replicated the model in their respective governments. The WTO headquarter in Geneva also extended an open arm assistance to the Punjab government in setting up of basic infrastructure and training of its employees on WTO working. The Cell has also some extraordinary books on WTO developments in its over 500-books library within the P&D department.
The cell contributed initially in creating public awareness on WTO affairs among business community, academia and media organisations. Successive workshops for Chambers of Commerce & Industry in major cities of the province besides preparation of research reports on services sector, footwear sector and furniture sector were a few feathers in the cap of the WTO Cell.
However, things failed to roll out further as actual plans later on and its funds kept on fluctuating with Rs 10 million in fiscal 2005-06, Rs 12.36 million in 2006-07, Rs 17 million in 2007-08 and Rs 5 million in 2008-09. All these funds had been allocated directly from the Annual Development Fund (ADP).
However, efforts were underway during current fiscal to get it under the head of non-development fund when relevant authority raised eyebrows over its ineffectiveness, followed by a detailed evaluation and presentations by the head of the WTO Cell to justify the viability of the Cell.
Sources in the P&D department informed that uncertainty has been clubbed with the cell from day one. Two young planning officers left the cell soon as they got a good as well as stable opportunity outside P&D and the last one, a young lady having masters in economics from the Government College University (GCU), has also resigned and presently in the process of completion of the notice period.
It is also worth noting that the post of Assistant Chief of the WTO Cell is lying vacant permanently. The Chief of the Cell Ejaz Hussain, having studied econometrics from abroad, has been teaching at GCU on deputation before joining the WTO Cell. However, the sources within the WTO Cell have alleged that Ejaz Hussain was still teaching at different private universities as visiting faculty, causing bad effect on the performance of the cell.
Ejaz Hussain, when contacted, however denied the allegation and said he was fully committed to revive the lost glory of the Cell and trying his level best to satisfy the concerned authority on its viability in future.
Sources further told this scribe that the Cell's viability was also exposed heavily to the constant resistance from other sections of the P&D, as the officers there find no genuine reason in continuing with the WTO Cell any further.
"They believe that the WTO Cell was not contributing tangibly in the development of the province and its staff, particularly the chief, is more interested in activities outside the Cell," said one source.
It may be noted that the provincial commerce & industry department had also proposed to adopt the WTO Cell, which was opposed by the then chief of the cell Dr Inam-ul-Haq. Chances of transfer of the Cell from P&D to provincial commerce & industry department remained bright until the provincial administration realised that this department was eyeing for financial benefits, as they had prepared a heavy budget to run it by asking for a good number of vehicles for its officers.
The WTO Cell was though saved from any such mala fide move but the P&D officials have been extending a step-motherly attitude towards the Cell. According to the sources, funds allocated for the Cell have often been utilised for other purposes without bringing it to the notice of Cell staff. Like, it was informed to the cell staff that funds allocated for purchase of laptop for the cell were used by the P&D department for purchase of laptop for the Chairman P&D. Therefore, there was no laptop for the WTO Cell, said one source.
Over a dozen existing staff at the WTO Cell is uncertain about their future and last ditch efforts are being made by their sympathisers to save their jobs by ensuring continuity of the WTO Cell at the Punjab P&D department. Despite repeated attempts, Secretary P&D was not available to comment.
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