KARACHI – While the Ministry of Defence is not releasing VIP protocol passes at the country’s airports for security reasons, it has issued the same passes to some influential exporters.
While the absence of the facility to the countries exporters in the last couple of months is deemed a major irritant apart from the business losses entailed, the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Defence have secretly issued passes to two influential exporters, sources told Pakistan Today.
One of the favoured individuals to receive the pass was Advisor to Prime Minister on Textiles and Chairman and Baig Group of Industries CEO Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig. Sources claimed that the other exporter was also an influential personality and retains strong ties with the ruling party.
Though hundreds of applicants are still waiting for the facility with the two ministries were reluctant to issue the passes in a bid to avoid the rush and security risks at national airports, the two influential exporters have successfully obtained the facility secretly, they added. While the country’s economic activities are badly affected by the persistently poor security situation as well as the crippling energy crisis, the favoritism exhibited is seen as another factor which will further discourage exporters and importers. Though the two ministries have already effectively rejected almost 200 applicants with an export value of around $10 million, through setting an export value of $20 million to enjoy the pass facility, the fresh move has made it clear that only certain exporters can enjoy the facility, sources said.
According to sources, the influential exporter-cum advisor had expressed his displeasure to the concerned ministries over the withholding of the passes which were needed for exporters to meet their clients at the VIP lounges of airports.
As the exporters were already suffering in the absence of the protocol passes since February 9 this year, the fresh move on the part of the ministries have further added to their woes. Dozens of exporters were already calling for the facility to be renewed during the last month as their existing passes have expired while the defence ministry was also reluctant to issue the new passes due to security reasons.
Though the extended dates of the protocol passes issued to the exporters have expired on February 9, 2011, both ministries were yet to arrange the new passes despite repeated requests of the country’s exporters. It is worth mentioning that the Government of Pakistan issues the protocol passes every year to leading exporters with a minimum export performance of $10 million to facilitate exporters to meet their clients at the VIP lounges of airport.
The facility was deemed to be very important for exporters given that the majority of the foreign buyers and importers who have connecting flights were permitted to take another flight from the airport after securing a business deal with Pakistani exporters without staying in the country. VIP lounges were being used for the trade deals where the pass holders are usually permitted to meet their foreign importers for a short period of time. Almost 200 exporters have submitted their documents at Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) which basically recommends the issuance of passes to the exporters.
