960418

CTA wants TQMD's

discretionary

powers annualled

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Council of Textile Association has demanded of the government to take away all discretionary powers from the Textile Quota Management Directorate which are being misused to hamper growth of export.

In a statement issued to the press on Wednesday S.M.A. Rizvi, Convener, CTA, has said that the uncalled for and excessive involvement of the TQMD is gradually confusing the various issues relating to exports, quota, and pre-shipment inspections.

He said in the year 1992-93, the United States of America came with serious charges against Pakistan in respect of circumvention on various textile items particularly bed sheets, pillow cases, towels, and fabrics etc.

The Government of Pakistan including Textile Associations gave full assurance to USA for cooperation in checking circumvention from Pakistan.

Rizvi said, even an SRO No.663(1)/93 dated 2nd August 1993 was issued which was also notified in the Gazette of Pakistan that pre-shipment certificates for exports to non-quota items/countries would be given by respective All Pakistan Textile Associations which would certify the nature of the goods, quantity and destination to keep a watch on all non-quota textile items in order to find out if these were not exported to USA.

He said, the Government of Pakistan on the suggestion of TQMD issued another SRO No.351(1)/95 wherein fabrics of all sorts were also included for the purpose of pre-shipment certificate.

This pre-shipment certificate power was taken away from the associations and entrusted to Textile Quota Management Directorate in order to have a grip on the exporters and to further assure the United States that the Government of Pakistan is making every effort to remove the complaint of circumvention.

The issuance of these certificates involves an inordinate delay (which normally should not happen) by the TQMD resulting in a lot of inconvenience and loss to the exporters. This matter was raised twice before the Secretary Commerce and he was pleased to direct the TQMD to remove this complaint but it still remains un-attended.

The TQMD has again come out with a circular No.8 (PSEP) TQMD-96 dated 11th April 1996 attached, seeking irrelevant and extraneous details from the exporters about the construction and contents of fabrics (indicating warp, weft, reed and pick), sizes etc - all Greek to TQMD - making matters more complicated and difficult for the exporters to obtain the required certificate.

Rizvi requested government to intervene in the matter and take away all discretionary powers from the TQMD which are being misused to coerce, the exporters and hamper the growth and smooth flow of export from Pakistan. In fact this department which was the brain child of previous government, should have been abolished long ago and handed back to the Export Promotion Bureau or now, to the newly formed Export Division so that the promotional angle be given priority in dealing with the quota affairs; and serious notice be taken for less or non-utilisation of some very hot categories.