NA body grills NTC's top brass over anti-dumping cases

National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and Textile on Thursday grilled top brass of National Tariff Commission (NTC) for its inability to finalise anti-dumping cases despite heavy packages from the national exchequer. Presided over by Siraj Muhammad Khan, the committee was apprised that there was a huge backlog in investigations before the newly appointed Commission. Minister for Commerce and Textile, Pervaiz Malik Secretary Commerce Younus Dagha and Additional Secretary Anjum Asad Amin were also present.
The representative of NTC apprised the committee that the Commission had addressed various issues of tariff protection and anomalies on the basis of its research studies conducted by involving all stakeholders in the matter. He further apprised that PTC law had increased the jurisdiction of its anti-dumping Appellate Tribunal of PTC. He further apprised that the Commission had successfully linked its system with that of Pakistan Customs for immediate collection of duty.
According to the NTC members, Rubina Athar and Abdul Khaliq, the newly appointed Commission in September 2016 undertook 13 initiations, 21 preliminary determinations and 18 final determinations. There are six cases which are under review. Chairman NTC Qasim Niaz did not attend the meeting due to the demise of his sister.
The third NTC member Tipu Sultan preferred to remain silent after he witnessed that his two colleagues were being mercilessly grilled by parliamentarians. The committee was informed that almost 301 cases were in litigation, out of which 121 have been decided and 180 are still pending.
Standing Committee members including Chairman of the committee and Ms Shehzadi Umarzadi Tiwana were unhappy with the performance and briefing by the NTC members. On a couple of occasions, it was observed that NTC top brass does not understand the questions raised by parliamentarians.
"I am surprised that the Commission is unable to finalise 15 cases despite having full strength," said Ms Tiwana. Mrs Anjum Asad Amin, Additional Secretary (Trade Diplomacy) rescued the NTC team from embarrassment by rephrasing questions of Standing Committee members.
During discussion on anti dumping duties, NTC members maintained that since Anti-dumping Appellate Tribunal is incomplete, most of the affected parties are approaching higher courts due to which determinations on cases are delayed."When issues are taken to courts and stay orders are issued, then delays are normal," argued Rubina Athar.
The committee decided that the issue of inactiveness of Anti-dumping Appellate Tribunal will be raised in the National Assembly session, to begin on December 7, 2017. Chairman Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB), Syed Sohail Altaf briefed the committee about performance of PTB and supply of uncertified tobacco seed to farmers.
Committee directed the PTB to focus on its R&D activities to develop other varieties which were suitable for cultivation in the local climate. The committee also asked the PTB to explore possibilities of converting tobacco curing barns from traditional wood-fired to solar-powered in order to address the environmental degradation concerns and reduce the pressure on depleting forests.
Chairman Standing Committee who is also a tobacco grower informed the committee that last year growers incurred a massive financial loss due to leaf dropping. He said, this year half the leaves have already burnt. The committee decided to constitute an informal committee to visit tobacco growing areas of KPK and finalise recommendations for amendment in the PTC Act so that the organisation can take action against tobacco companies. In reply to a question, Chairman PTB informed the committee that a Chinese company has shown interest in establishment a tobacco company in KPK. However, he did not disclose the name of the company.
Women members of the committee showed keen interest in tobacco and niswar. Shahzadi Umarzadi Tiwana argued that the government should increase taxes on tobacco products. She also expressed her displeasure at the performance of the committee which irritated the Committee Chairman.
"Please control yourself. These things should be discussed in an in-camera meeting," warned Chairman Siraj Khan. Besides other MNAs, Chaudhry Asad-ur-Rehman, Shaheen Shafiq, Tahira Aurangzeb, Zeb Jaffar, Shahzadi Umerzadi Tiwana, Dr Mehreen Razaque Bhutto, Nazir Ahmed Bughio, Mussarat Ahmad Zeb and Sajida Begum attended the meeting.