After a strong opposition by the ministry of commerce, national assembly standing committee on commerce decided to defer the finalisation of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) bill till its next meeting. The meeting of the committee was held under the chairmanship of Khurram Dastgir Khan. Briefing the committee, Secretary Commerce, Zafar Mehmood said there was no need of TDAP because trade and exports promotion is a function of facilitation and not of regulation. The bill is under consideration of the committee for the last four years.
However, he said it was difficult to run TDAP without legal cover. In the absence of board, ordinance and business rules, the authority’s status was very ambiguous and putting a big question over the fate of the organisation. Former President, General Pervez Musharraff had established TDAP through an Ordinance in 2006 by replacing the earlier Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) to evolve an effective authority for the promotion of exports.
The committee also discussed reconstitution of TDAP board of directors as the existing size of the board is considered huge with minister for commerce as chairman, while the chief executive, TDAP is its vice chairman and other 25 members including 15 ex-officio members while 10 from the private sectors. Secretary commerce was of view that the huge size of the board was not suitable and severely affecting the performance of the authority. The committee asked the ministry to suggest the reconstitution of the board and was informed that for posting of 38 commercial counselors, a written test will be held on February 11 conducted by LUMS. The process will be finalised by April 2012. The committee directed the ministry that no appointment should be made without passing the requisite test.
