A Senate committee has asked Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (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 do.
The meeting of the committee was held under the chairmanship of Senator Shibli Faraz at the Parliament House on Monday. Senator Saleem Mandviwala pointed out that TDAP should have market based rules so that it can in reality do something to enhance the country’s exports. He said that the TDAP is not doing anything except image building. Senator Shibli Faraz said that as far as enhancing the exports is concerned, they are not doing anything.
Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastagir asked the committee to suggest recommendations to make the TDAP independent. The committee asked the 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 financially and humanly. 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. The commerce secretary said that we will have to look for ways to give incentives to people to attract the best for tough jobs. Senator Shibli Faraz said that it is not just about filling vacancies but having the right people for the jobs.