DGTO accuses trade organisations of flouting rules

Director General Trade Organisations Ministry of Commerce and Textile Division (DGTO-MCT) Waqar Ahmad Shah on Tuesday expressed his dissatisfaction over poor performance of the licensed trade organisations regarding implementation of the regulator's provisions. "A number of trade organisations are involved in irregularities and violations of DGTO act ranging from fake documentations to election bargaining," he said, addressing the general secretaries and office bearers of various trade organisations at a 'capacity building workshop' at the office of Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufactures and Exporters' Association (PRGMEA). The event was primarily aimed at enhancing awareness among the legal trade bodies representing the business community engaged in trade, industry, and services sectors concerning improved regulatory compliance of the Trade Organisations Act and Rules, 2013.
Waqar Shah said hardly 30 percent of the licensed organisations are complying with the DGTO rules, while the others are least bothered in this regard.
Since 2007, he said, some 232 trade organizations have been issued licenses by the regulator that include one license to Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), 59 licenses to other Chambers of Commerce and Industry, 17 to Women Chambers of Commerce and Industry, nine to Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry, seven to Joint Chambers of Commerce and Industry, 130 licenses to associations, two to Small Associations while seven licenses were issued to the Town Associations.
The DGTO also said some 136 cases of different trade organisations are currently being heard in deferent courts. Of them, 31 cases are in the Islamabad High Court, 10 in Peshawar High Court, 54 cases are in Lahore High Court, 34 in Sindh High Court, two are in the Chief Court Gilgit, while five cases are in Balochistan High Court. Highlighting a sectoral representation of the licensed trade organizations (TOs), he said, 27 TOs are from services sector, 21 from textile sector, 20 from agriculture, 15 from engineering, 8 from metals, 6 from chemical, 5 from minerals 5 petroleum, 4 from paper/ paperboard sector, 4 from pharmaceutical and another 4 have obtained licenses from lather sector.
PRGMEA central chairman Shaikh Mohammad Shafiq hailed the initiative of DGTO to hold 1st consultative session on capacity building of secretaries general and office bearers of licensed Trade Organizations (TOs). He said the session would be very helpful in post-licensing and renewal requirements as per the provision of law. He said this would also restrict fake organizations from obtaining the license from DGTO office.