Red tape: Exporters want easier payment modes

KARACHI: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (Unisame) has said that small and medium rice exporters will face difficulties and their shipments will be delayed if their cheques not accepted by the Trade Development Authority (TDAP). TDAP insists that payments for pre-shipment inspection (PSI) fees be paid to it via pay-orders. Unisame President Zulfikar Thaver said rice exporters have been paying PSI fees by cheque to the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan, but it has now been reported that rice exporters have to prepare pay-orders in favour of TDAP’s Quality Review Committee from December 1, 2012. He said the move is appreciated and acceptable, but the facility of payment by cheque should also be continued. In fact, rice exporters should be given other options of payment too, he said. He was of the opinion that restricting the payment mode to pay-orders will result in delayed shipments because it is a time-consuming process.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2012.