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TMA suggests trade-govt meetings for redressal of grievances

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Towel Manufacturers Association of Pakistan (TMA) has suggested that joint meetings of the trade associations and government departments should be called periodically for the redressal of the problems faced by exporters.

The TMA acting Chairman S. M. A. Rizvi, while welcoming the appointment of Tariq Ikram as chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau, said that the EPB plays a pivotal role in exports and its chairman is a bridge between the exporters and government departments and ministries and policy makers.

He said that all policies and orders are generally good but their interpretation and implementations is sometimes distorted, which creates bottlenecks, impediments and harassment by certain functionaries. "This is the sphere where the EPB chairman can help us best. You have also to prepare the exporters for the new WTO and the scenario beyond 2005 when textile quotas will be phased out," Rizvi added.

He lauded the role of EPB Vice Chairman Masood Alam Rizvi, who has run the bureau independently without a chairman for more than a quarter year.