Trade development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), the only trade promoting and regulatory body of Pakistan, has failed to improve the exports of the country. The government has appointed a new secretary TDAP, who lacks experience in the concerned field and the running affairs of such an important organisation.
Inamullah Khan Dharejo, new Secretary TDAP, has only served in various departments of the Sindh Government over the course of his career. Sources at the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) disclosed that the appointment of the new secretary came as a surprise for the ministry as the TDAP, already in hot waters for its failure to perform as expected, was provided with another blue-eyed officer only to look after run-of-the-mill, routine matters.
“The exporters across the country are unhappy over the current functioning of the authority, which, according to them has reduced to a mere event management organisation. The new appointment shows the obvious and much apparent lack of seriousness of the government in regards to the organisation’s functioning, and the deteriorating exports of the country,” a source stated.
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Interestingly, the new secretary was given the post despite the presence of an already available and competent officer from the Trade and Commerce group. Dr Usman of BPS-21, being the most senior officer at the TDAP, was not given the charge of secretary. He has now been considered for the post of the senior director general of the authority after the appointment of Mr Dharejo, a newly promoted BPS-21 officer.
The appointment was made amidst the reported lack of coordination between the Chief Executive (CE) of TDAP and its officers/staff. SM Munir, being a political appointee from the private sector, has largely not been liked or welcomed by the staff and officers at the authority. Though the chief executive, who is also an active business leader at Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, claims his action is aimed at ending the menace of corruption and only the corrupt employees are annoyed at this decision. The overall lack of coordination and working relationship is badly affecting the performance of the authority, ultimately causing long-lasting negative impacts on the exports of the country. Â
TDAP, as per the ordinance 2006, has been headed by a retired BPS-22 officer. However, the present government, by amending the ordinance and making it an Act in 2013, had paved a way for the appointment of the present CE, whose qualifications for the important slot were also questioned by the Transparency International Pakistan.
According to insiders at TDAP, neither the head of the organisation nor the secretary is qualified enough to deal with trade-related issues, especially with foreign countries, their delegates and missions.
Last year a Senate committee had asked TDAP to empower its board and give the members of the board financial, as well as administrative authority. It was observed that the board was dysfunctional, not doing what it was supposed to do.
The committee, during its meeting held under the chairmanship of Senator Shibli Faraz, had expressed its strong concerns over the sorry state of affairs at TDAP. Member of the committee, Saleem Mandviwala, pointed out that the TDAP should have market-based rules so that it can, in reality, do something to enhance the country’s exports. Shibli Faraz said that as far as enhancing the exports is concerned, TDAP is doing nothing.
Due to the failure of TDAP/Ministry of Commerce and lack of interests on the part of the government, the exports of the country which once (in 2012) had jumped to $ 24 billion, have now declined to $ 18 to $ 19 billion. This continuous declining trend during the past few years is alarming. The overall exports this financial year are expected to register an amount of at least $ 18 billion.
The TDAP came into being on November 8, 2006, by an Ordinance No XXX of 2006 promulgated by former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf, which change the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) into TDAP with the same management.
