NA body recommends to put on hold posting of Commercial Counsellors

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Commerce here on Thursday directed the ministry of commerce to put on hold the positing of trade attache until the record is examined by the committee.

Speaking in the meeting of the committee, held with Engineer Khuram Dastgir Khan in the chair, Khawaja Sohail Mansoor said that the ministry should submit the record of test conducted by the Lahore University of Management Science (LUMS) and the list of candidates forward by the ministry for appointments.

"The import duty should be reduced which can help to reduce the smuggling in the country", he added.

Secretary Commerce, Munir Qureshi said that the trade between Pakistan and India was beneficial for both countries.

"We support the relation between both countries because the economic benefit as the China has kept its good relation with India and Taiwan for its economic benefits", he added.

Qureshi said that the appointment of the commercial attache was made on the merit basis purely by following all criteria set in rules of the ministry.

Of 206, 44 trade attache were selected and they have passed the test conducted by LUMS a reputable institution in the country, he said adding that of 44 trade attache deputed abroad, 37 were called back and the remaining would called back whenever we wanted.

Commerce Secretary said that the funds have been earmarked for the women chamber of commerce and these funds would help to promote their business activities in the country.

Besides, the Afghan Transit Trade Agreement is the beneficial for Pakistan and Afghanistan and it has helped a lot in reducing the smuggling in the country, he told.

The member of committee, Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi said that the government should introduce the incentives or package for FATA and other areas connecting to border between Pakistan Afghanistan to reduce smuggling.

Shireen Arshad Khan said that the performance of Trade Attache should be should be evaluated and the performance evaluation should be out-source to reputable institutions.

Chairman Committee said that 3rd Party should evaluate the performance of the Commercial Attache deputed abroad.

The posting of each Attache should be target basis and if any one did not achieve target, he or she should be called beck, Engineer Khuram Dastgir Khan said.

It was told that the negative list was in the place still and of total, Rs.327 million of Export Development Fund (EDF) was available with ministry.

It was further told that the subsidy was approved through trade policy for promoting the business of remote areas.