Commerce Ministry is reportedly facing an awkward situation with respect to current status of Chief Executive of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) S. M. Munir, who is also one of the major exporters of leather products. Well-informed sources told Business Recorder, Establishment Division had issued notification of S. M. Munir's appointment on March 12, 2014 as CE of TDAP on a contract basis on purely honorific basis (without any salary) and till further orders S.M. Munir assumed the charge on March 18, 2014.
However, the TDAP Act 2013 clearly states that "there shall be a Chief Executive of the Authority who shall be appointed by the federal government. The tenure of the Chief Executive shall be of three years extendable by the federal government. The Chief Executive shall, however, serve at the pleasure of the federal government".
One of the Commerce Ministry officials toldBusiness Recorder that according to the TDAP Act 2013, which is a legal document, the tenure of CE TDAP is over. However, confusion still exists whether his continuation in the job would be as per Establishment Division's notification or the TDAP Act.
When this question was put before the Commerce Minister, Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan on Tuesday, he said that this confusion exists in the Commerce Ministry also. "Commerce Ministry is seeking a legal advice from the Ministry of Law and Justice to ascertain as to how the Act and notifications work. This issue was not in my knowledge. I have asked the Ministry to look into the agreement, if any, signed by the CE and that agreement will take precedence. We are doing precedent determination between the Act, contract and the notification," said Dastgir.
CE TDAP S.M. Muneer as head of government Organization is also enjoying portfolio of Director in FPCCI Pakistan Canada Business Council which may be seen as a conflict of interest. Analysts argue that being TDAP CE, he cannot be part of any business Organization. Under the TDAP Act, the CEO is a full time employee of the authority which comes under Ministry of Commerce.
According to the notification of the FPCCI "in response to the elections notice of FPCCI-IBP/BC/-2017 of January 5, 2017 for the nine members of the board of the directors of the Pakistan Canada Business Council of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry for the term 2017, we have received seven nominations for the post of directorship of Pakistan Canada Business Council before or on the stipulated date. Therefore the seven members are declared elected (unopposed) on the Board of Directors of the Pakistan Canada Business Council".
Commerce Minister stated that he has not received even a single complaint of corruption or misuse of authority by the incumbent Chief Executive TDAP. Commerce Ministry had not recommended the name of S. M. Munir for the slot of CE TDAP. It was Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who selected him for this position. Insiders maintain that in case the issue is sent to the Prime Minister office, S. M Munir will certainly get an extension. Others state that the Prime Minister is unhappy with him as exports have shown negative growth during his tenure.
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