Senate panel suggests relocating TDAP to Islamabad
Committee members express disappointment at its performance
PHOTO: TDAP
ISLAMABAD:
A Senate standing committee has recommended that head offices of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) be relocated to the federal capital in a bid to improve its performance.
Members of the Senate Standing Committee on Commerce expressed their disappointment at TDAP’s performance and agreed with committee chairperson Senator Shibli Faraz that relocation might help it start functioning effectively.
Despite persistent requests by Commerce Minister Pervaiz Malik to defer the matter, the committee passed a resolution calling for TDAP’s relocation from Karachi to Islamabad.
Established as the country’s premier trade organisation in 2006, TDAP and its predecessor Export Promotion Bureau have had their headquarters at Karachi’s Shahrah-e-Faisal.
“TDAP’s representatives have not been able to articulate the institution’s role, mandate and vision during three years of the committee so far. We receive evasive answers from them. In three years, they did not budge, and have zero progress,” the chairperson said.
He said head offices should be in Islamabad while it can have its regional offices in other cities including Karachi. “I know Karachi is the commercial hub, but your mindset has also become localised. TDAP needs to reinvent itself,” he added. Senator Saleem Mandviwala initially opposed the idea, saying just relocation would not help improve TDAP’s working.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 31st, 2018.
A Senate standing committee has recommended that head offices of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) be relocated to the federal capital in a bid to improve its performance.
Members of the Senate Standing Committee on Commerce expressed their disappointment at TDAP’s performance and agreed with committee chairperson Senator Shibli Faraz that relocation might help it start functioning effectively.
Despite persistent requests by Commerce Minister Pervaiz Malik to defer the matter, the committee passed a resolution calling for TDAP’s relocation from Karachi to Islamabad.
Established as the country’s premier trade organisation in 2006, TDAP and its predecessor Export Promotion Bureau have had their headquarters at Karachi’s Shahrah-e-Faisal.
“TDAP’s representatives have not been able to articulate the institution’s role, mandate and vision during three years of the committee so far. We receive evasive answers from them. In three years, they did not budge, and have zero progress,” the chairperson said.
He said head offices should be in Islamabad while it can have its regional offices in other cities including Karachi. “I know Karachi is the commercial hub, but your mindset has also become localised. TDAP needs to reinvent itself,” he added. Senator Saleem Mandviwala initially opposed the idea, saying just relocation would not help improve TDAP’s working.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 31st, 2018.