Ministry criticised for decline in exports

National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce on Wednesday criticised Commerce Ministry on the continuous decline in exports during the last two years. Presided over by Siraj Muhammad Khan, who defied Chairman PTI by attending National Assembly session during the four-month-long dharna, the committee also criticised Commerce Minister Engineer Khurram Dastgir and Secretary Commerce, Shahzad Arbab for not attending the meeting.
Commerce Ministry''s Joint Secretary Exports and Imports, Muhammad Ashraf faced criticism during the meeting. The ruling party Member National Assembly, Chaudhry Asad ur-Rehman was very vocal against top brass of Commerce Ministry for failing to meet export target and befooling the nation ''with English''. "Commerce Ministry''s officials do not have any plan. Exports are on the decline and imports are on the rise for the last two years. Commerce Ministry''s officials cannot do anything except speak English," said, Rehman.
Standing Committee was informed that Cotton Export Corporation was no more due to a financial crisis. Presently, the government is intervening through Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP). In reply to a question, Commerce Ministry official informed the committee that the plan for export of dates has failed, adding that the government has refused to extend Rs 100 million for export centres which were planned to be set up in Khairpur, Turbat and D.I. Khan. Member Standing Committee Mehreen Razak informed the committee that 70 per cent of dates'' crop in Khairpur (Sindh) was destroyed due to recent flash floods . She further stated that both the federal and provincial governments have made no effort to secure the crop.
The officials of Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) gave a briefing to the committee about the structure and working results of the company where employees are not getting salaries. The government recently reconstituted PHDEC Board and appointed a new CEO to run the company''s affairs but the committee expressed dissatisfaction at their performance; and directed the management to reproduce their briefing after three months after reorganising the company to make it profitable. The committee also recommended developing expertise in gems cutting and polishing and to do it at a cheap price.
The committee expressed satisfaction on a briefing of Pakistan School of Fashion and Design, Lahore. The committee expressed their wish to visit the school and physically see the work and output of this institution. Chaudhry Asad-ur-Rehman, Mian Muhammad Rasheed, Tahira Aurangzeb, Shahzadi Umerzadi Tiwana, Dr Mehreen Razzaque Bhutto, Ms Shazia Marri, Mussrat Ahmad Zeb and Dr Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharral attended the meeting beside the officials of the Ministry of Commerce, PHDEC and School of Fashion Design.