Expressing grave concern over the reports of misappropriation of Rs 600 million by TDAP officials under the garb of freight subsidy, Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) has appealed to the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to look into affairs of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and save it from the corrupt and the dishonest officials.
The PIAF Chairman Malik Tahir Javaid said it is very unfortunate that the black sheep in the TDAP caused a huge loss to the exchequer for their ulterior motives that too at a time when the business community is looking for incentives to cope with internal and external challenges.
He said payment of Rs 600 million to bogus and fictitious firms under the head of freight subsidy while the facility has already been discontinued raised many an eyebrow. Malik Tahir Javaid said the genuine exporters are doing their businesses in tough conditions while the fake ones are getting all the benefits in connivance of the officials of the Trade Development Authority.
Javaid said had the Trade Development Authority constituted a committee consisting private sector representatives on the freight subsidy committee, the situation today would not have been so discouraging. He said that the scam has not only tarnished the image of the country but also the reputation of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan.
The PIAF Chairman said that stoppage of freight subsidy frustrated exports despite availability of huge export order. He said that the government should facilitate the exporting industry as local consumption is stagnant and the industry is working under capacity.
Javaid further said that the spirit behind allowing freight subsidy is to maximise exports and facilitate the exporters in particular. He also requested the authorities that in order to encourage exports' freight subsidy should be restarted as this will not only help bring in precious foreign exchange but also assist the industry to overcome its present financial crisis. He said that the PIAF appreciates the government for launching crackdown against corruption and corrupt elements and it would supplement all government efforts aimed at purging the society of the dishonest and corrupt elements.