Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) S. M. Munir revealed Monday that Bangladesh has blacklisted Pakistan and stopped issuance of visas to businessmen due to which trade with Bangladesh is almost at zero. Briefing Senate Standing Committee on Commerce, headed by Senator Syed Shibli Faraz, he said that trade with SAARC countries is as usual but Bangladesh is not granting visas to Pakistanis.
Commerce Minister, Engineer Khurram Dastgir and Secretary Commerce also attended the meeting. Commerce Ministry and TDAP were criticised for the worst ever exports performance. TDAP gave a detailed presentation to the committee on its activities, trade exhibitions, trade delegations and issues related to dearth of manpower. "Bangladesh Prime Minister is abusing Pakistan each day and executed four of our people. Visas are not being issued to Pakistanis. Exports to Bangladesh including yarn are at zero level," he added.
Replying to a question regarding trade with Afghanistan, he stated that Afghan leadership is annoyed with Pakistan for not allowing trade through Wagha - which he witnessed during his meetings with President Ashraf Ghani and former President Hamid Karzai during the SAARC meeting. He further briefed the committee that Afghan businessmen have enough dollars and intend to do business with Pakistan but tensions on Torkham do not allow for smooth trade.
"Afghanistan is third major buyer of Pakistani products and very important to us but there are problems due to exchange of fire each day on Torkham border," he added. S. M. Munir cited Afghan businessmen as saying they do $4 billion trade with Pakistan of which $2 billion trade is under the table. Highlighting trade issues with Russia and Iran, he said, absence of banking channels is hurting Pakistani exports to both the countries, adding that he has requested Finance Minister, Senator Ishaq Dar and Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to open banking facilities in the two countries to promote export of Pakistani products.
Senate Standing Committee including Senator Usman Kakar criticised TDAP for poor performance with respect to exports. Commerce Minister, Engineer Khurram Dastgir said the Commerce Ministry is working on a proposal to create an entity in the Ministry or TDAP that would liaise between Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and other Ministries to offer better incentives.
Secretary Commerce justified the poor performance by maintaining that officers of Finance Ministry receive better financial incentives. Senator Salim Mandviwala criticised the performance of TDAP, saying that the organisation cannot perform until recommendations of the Board are implemented in letter and spirit. Secretary TDAP Rabiya Javeri Agha contended that the organisation is facing dearth of manpower. She said two positions of grade 20, one position of grade 19, 13 positions of grade 18, 56 positions of grade 17 and two positions of grade 16 are vacant. She further said that 67 officers of grade 19, 18 and 17 of C&T group are on deputation in other Ministries where perks and privileges are better as compared to TDAP.
CEO TDAP S. M. Munir stated that he was unable to even recruit staff or buy a car for the officers. He maintained that officers are not willing to come to Karachi due to law and order situation. Senator Salim Mandviwala said that independence should be given to TDAP through the Board and claimed that TDAP's inactivity was why he (Mandviwalla) resigned from the board.
Chairman Standing Committee Syed Shibli Faraz offered the top management of TDAP, the platform of the committee to devise a mechanism aimed at making the organisation vibrant so that it could fulfil its responsibilities. TDAP's CEO and Secretary accepted the offer and requested the Chairman to send recommendations to the government to make the organisation more vibrant.
Replying to a question, CEO TDAP said that during the PPP government Rs 1.3 billion were plundered from TDAP through fake subsidy claims of 100 businessmen. Two formers CEOs and Secretary remained behind bars for one and half years and added that Rs 27 billion has been recovered and cases are under litigation. According to a press release, Senate Standing Committee on Commerce in its meeting has asked TDAP to empower its board and give the members of the board financial as well as administrative authority. It observed that in its present state the board is dysfunctional and is not doing what it is supposed to deliver.
Senator Saleem Mandviwala pointed out that TDAP should have market based rules so that it can in reality do something to enhance country's exports. He said that TDAP is not going anywhere except image building. Senator Shibli Faraz said that as far as enhancing exports is concerned, there's nothing.
Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastagir also said that it will be a high favour to TDAP if the committee can suggest recommendations to make the institution independent. The committee asked Chief Executive Officer of TDAP to send a research paper of recommendations so that the committee can work on it. In TDAP's briefing to the standing committee meeting, it was pointed out that the body is under-resourced - both financial and human. The committee was told that the there are certain constraints due to which these posts remain unfilled; the major reason being the head office in Karachi. Secretary Commerce said that they will have to look for ways to give incentives to people to attract people to do this kind of tough job. Senator Shibli Faraz said that it is not just about filling vacancies but having the right people for the job.