Expo Pakistan postponed

Deteriorating law and order situation and financial crunch cited as reasons..

KARACHI: Expo Pakistan, scheduled to be held in February, has been postponed because of deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi which has made it difficult for foreign delegates to attend the exhibition and the financial crunch faced by the country.

The ministry of commerce has hinted that organising the conference will require a substantial amount of funds which might not be available during this period of financial constraints.

Exporters are of the opinion that even if the exhibition is held it might not yield the desired results because factories are shutting down owing to energy shortages amid high interest rates and an uncertain security situation.

The exhibition, which was being organised by the Trade Development Authority, was planned to take place from February 25 to 28. However, sources said buyer delegations from the US and Europe could not be convinced to attend the fair. An official announcement regarding the postponement of the event is expected to be made on January 24.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2011.