The committee met here Monday to examine the terms of reference and discuss and suggest ways and means for proper implementation of Trade Organization Act, 2013 for ensuring appropriate representation of all genders and business sectors in business activity in the country. The officials of Commerce Ministry informed the committee that the country's exports increased by 15 percent during the last six months, but the committee rejected the figures while saying that till satisfaction of exporters, the government's figures would not be considered credible.
Regarding the commercial counselors, the ministry informed that their performance is regularly being monitored and in case of unsatisfactory results, they are even called back. It was further revealed that the country had almost lost the GPS plus status but due to the hard work of the officials posted there, it was saved. The committee directed to present the whole record and performance of commercial counselors in the next meeting.
The committee recommended to increase the tenure of President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) from the current one year to three years, as practiced in other countries, to enable him/her make policies and enhance trade linkages under the government supervision. The committee directed to make comparative analysis of the models of China, Bangladesh and others adopted for the running such chambers and federations.
The committee observed that the one of the reasons behind the deteriorated situation at commerce is negligence. The president of FPCCI should be a person which can give benefits to the whole of Pakistan and not only to a province. The committee further recommended appointing a person as FPCCI president who is qualified and experienced and not on the basis of political influence.
The committee members revealed that women chambers of commerce are being misused. Some people exploit women belonging to far-flung areas only to fulfill the counts and not fulfilling other criteria for getting registration to get personal advantages in exhibitions outside the country. The committee recommended that there should have been check and balance for license and registration.
Director Trade Organizations (DTO) Umar Dad Afridi said that they have only four desk officers across the country for thousands of members of chambers and associations. The committee recommended for opening four offices, one each in all the four provinces. The committee further recommended the Commerce Ministry to facilitate the process of becoming members of all the international chambers to enhance the country trade relations.