Pakistani exporters lose valuables in Tripoli

Dozens of Pakistani exporters have lost their valuables in Libya, which were to be displayed in a famous international fair. A large numbers of Pakistani products stored in Tripoli, the largest city capital of the foreign country which is hit by the prolonged unrest, have reportedly lost during the present ongoing clashes between the separatist and the government, sources said. 
Majority of the Pakistani companies which have attended a Single Country Exhibition in Tripoli, and other international exhibitions last year had left their valuables in the foreign country to display again in the next exhibition to be held this year, sources said adding that the concerned department or companies in the foreign country have informed exporters that goods were lost during the unrest.
Though the affected exporters, sources said, were trying to approach concerned authorities in the foreign country to save their valuables, they had failed to attain any information about their goods.
Around 65-prominent companies from various sectors in Pakistan along with four others from Pakistani Business Community in Libya had attended the single country exhibition held in Libya from January 10-13, 2010.
This was the second event held at the directive of the President of Pakistan, who visited Libya in April/May last year, followed by a visit from our Prime Minister in August, 2009. Exhibitions in Libya were meant not only to cater to the foreign country’s market, but also to open a window into the sub-sahara markets of Africa. 
Tripoli International Trade Fair, mostly held in April every year, was also being attended by Pakistani exporters led by Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Besides the “Tripoli Food and Pack Show 2011”, scheduled to be held in Libya in May 2, 2011 was also postponed after the prolonged and violent uprising in the country. Pakistani exporters, willing to attend the fairs, have also cancelled their programme of visiting the foreign country.
Pakistan is one of the regular participants of the international event in Libya and members of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry are mostly attending the event. Tripoli Food and Pack Show is a premier trade fair for food, food technologies and packaging machinery industry in Tarabulus.