Senate's panel may approve amendment in TOO, 2007

Senate's standing committee on commerce is expected to approve an amendment in the Trade Organisations Ordinance, 2007 to grant registration licence to more than one association in the same sector. The committee which met with Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan in the chair discussed the entire DTO Ordinance clause-by-clause and at some point serious difference erupted between the Chairman and the articulate Kashmala Tariq, MNA of like-minded group.
Other members of the committee did not appear enthusiastic in taking part in deliberations except Haji Muhammad Akram Ansari. Sources revealed the committee is expected to recommend to the government to grant licence to a trade organisation for a period of 5 years instead of three years.
Presently, section 3, clause 7 of the DTO, 2007, licenses are being granted to the trade organisation for three years. Director General Trade Organisations was severely criticised by the representatives of trade bodies for alleged corruption. The committee is also expected to recommend an amendment in section 6 clause (1) suggesting that a licensed trade organisation should require renewal of its licence every five years instead of three years. The tenure of office-bearers of all trade organisations is expected to be two years and the first tenure of a new association shall be four years. Presently, the tenure of office-bearers of all trade organisations is one year.
The agenda of the meeting was as follows: (i) Briefing on "Import and Exports (Control) Amendment Bill, 2010"; and (ii) finalisation of "Trade Organisations Ordinance, 2007". Regarding Import and Exports (Control) Amendment Bill, 2010, the official statement said that it was a private Bill moved by Ms Nisar Tanveer, MNA who suggested the addition of a sub-section 5 to section 3 of the Import/Exports (Control) Act, 1950.
The Commerce Ministry, in its response to the suggestion, told the committee that in view of section 3 (1) of the Act, the federal government is already empowered to prohibit/restrict or otherwise control the export of goods of any description; therefore the said amendment is superfluous. The standing committee said the reasons given by the member are justified and, therefore, changes will be made in Import and Exports Act, 1950. The Trade Organisation Ordinance, 2007, deliberated and discussed in detail an in-camera meeting of the standing committee.
Ms Tahira Aurangzeb, MNA, Haji Muhammad Akram Ansari, MNA, Ms Kashmala Tariq, MNA, Ms Jamila Gillani, MNA, Ms Nisar Tanveer, MNA/Mover, Zafar Mahmood, Secretary, M/o Water and Power and other senior officers of the ministry and other related departments attended the meeting.