ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce on Monday postponed its scheduled meeting due to what members described as the non-serious attitude of the top leadership of the Ministry of Commerce, including the minister and the secretary.
As the committee began its proceedings under the chairmanship of Jawed Hanif Khan, members expressed strong displeasure over the absence of the ministry’s senior leadership, terming it a blatant disrespect to Parliament and an indication of a lack of seriousness.
We come from different parts of the country after thorough preparation to seek answers to our questions and remove ambiguities, but the absence of the top officials of the Ministry of Commerce from committee meetings reflects their non-serious attitude and disrespect towards this forum, several members said.
The chairman endorsed the concerns raised by the members, noting that he himself had travelled from Karachi to attend the meeting.
Prior to the commencement of the meeting, the chairman also expressed his displeasure with the Chief Executive Officer of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Faiz Chadhar, who was present to lead the ministry’s team.
CEO TDAP, along with Additional Secretary Commerce Muhammad Ashraf, attempted to defuse the situation by stating that the entire agenda had been finalised under the guidance of the Secretary Commerce and that they were prepared to respond to all questions raised by the committee.
The Additional Secretary informed the committee that Nasir Hamid, who was supposed to lead the ministry’s team, had been called to the Prime Minister’s Office for an important meeting and would arrive shortly. However, the committee did not accept this explanation.
The chairman then sought the opinion of the committee members on postponing the meeting. A majority of members agreed to adjourn the session due to the absence of the ministry’s top leadership.
According to an official statement issued by the committee, members expressed grave concern and outrage that despite the presence of critical agenda items related to the national economy—and despite members travelling from far-flung areas—the Minister, Secretary, and even the Special Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce failed to attend the meeting. It said that this absence reflects the ministry’s non-serious attitude and disrespect towards Parliament.
The chairman expressed dissatisfaction, anger, and frustration, stating that the ministry’s conduct demonstrated an irresponsible and utterly non-serious approach to parliamentary oversight. He said that in the absence of the minister, secretary, and other relevant senior officials to brief the committee, he had no option but to adjourn the meeting. A new date will be communicated in due course.
Members unanimously condemned the ministry’s behaviour, calling it disrespect to the Standing Committee, a constitutionally mandated forum of Parliament. Committee member Gul Asghar Khan termed the ministry’s attitude highly contemptuous and unacceptable. However, Asad Alam Niazi stressed that the presence of the minister and secretary is mandatory for meaningful deliberations.
The meeting was attended by MNAs Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Shaista Pervaiz, Farhan Chishti, Asad Alam Niazi, Ramesh Kumar Wankwani, and Gul Asghar Khan.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, the Finance Division, the Board of Investment, and the Ministry of National Food Security and Research were also present.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025