National Assembly's standing committee on commerce on Thursday formed a three-member committee to probe into alleged corruption in Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) after it was declared as third most corrupt organisation in the public sector by Transparency International.
The committee, which met here with Engineer Khurram Dastgir in the chair, said that the sub-committee headed by Shirin Arshad Khan would probe into the alleged corruption in TADP. The committee deferred TDAP Bill 2007, saying it will pass the bill only after the sub-committee's report. "The committee will pass the bill in light of the sub-committee's report," he added.
Khurram, who is chairman of the parliamentary panel said that it heart-wrenching that TDAP, the most important government functionary responsible for fetching exports to the country and help strengthen foreign exchange had been engulfed by corruption. He said the entity which has been declared as Pakistan's third most corrupt organisation in the public sector by Transparency International recently, is heading towards disaster as no positive work is seen as long as its job is concerned.
The confidence of exporters, Khurram added, had been shattered due to pathetic condition of TDAP, as no one is there to help or assist them. "Corruption, harassment of people who want to go aboard for exhibitions are reportedly being hurt or not facilitated properly", he remarked.
The committee also expressed concern about the status of trade organisations in the country, nepotism in issuing licenses to new chambers by the commerce ministry and lack of voice of small manufacturers.
Meanwhile, representatives of different large and small chambers of commerce gave their opinion regarding the TDAP Bill 2007. They were of the view that the TDAP Bill 2007 can eliminate fake and phoney trade bodies and pocket organisations. They also stressed the need to make some amendments in the bill, on which the business community had already expressed reservations. "There exist so many fake chambers which must be banned. We need genuine trade bodies which can truly serve exports and the country and plan ahead for the future", they maintained.
"The new ordinance requires a trade body to have a minimum number of 350 members to qualify for registration. That is too large a number. If it stands in the way of genuine trade bodies for registration that should be brought down", they added.
Tariq Sayeed, former chairman of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry called upon the committee to take stringent measures to ensure the participation of women entrepreneurs for their participation in foreign exhibitions as they had to face troubles with particular reference to their business visits.