Urges the government to take care of businessmen’s refund and rebate bringing it to a nil enabling them to invest their stuck-up money in business for growth, development
LAHORE: Pakistan has huge exports potential which, if it is taken care of at the government level and the exporters are provided with a level playing field, can be explore to great extent besides the country has bright economic future as the incumbent government has undertaken far-reaching reforms on almost all dimensions, especially peace has restored as the results of government and Army’s joint venture in the right direction and at this point nothing can stop the country from becoming Asian tiger.
These views were expressed by soft spoken business tycoon and TDAP Chairman SM Munir while exclusively talking to Customs Today here the other day.
SM Munir said that Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) is meant to looks after country’s exports and draw-out strategies and implements them the policies in this regard in letter and spirit to nurture export of the country.
About two years ago he was contacted by CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif that Prime Minister wanted to hand over affairs of TDAP to him in order to make the organization corruption free, Munir informed, adding that he accepted the offer conditionally with the view to serve the national interest.
He said that he conditioned that he would work but that too without any remuneration and other perks and privileges.
When he assumed the charge,f TDAP has lost Rs 1300 crores to corruption and the fact was known to everyone. Over 26 FIRs were lodged against various officials of TDAP and ministers while two the immediate chairman was also named in 61 FIRs each, he informed. Munir added that all are now on bails and the cases are being persuaded in the court of law.
“When I took charge of the office, staffers of all ranks were habitual of coming the office late that impacted the performance of the organization negatively to a great extent.
“In order to eliminate the culture of late coming to office by all and sundry I first implemented bio-metric system of attendance in Lahore Karachi and Faisalabad while on the same pattern the bio metric system will be implemented and nobody is allowed to come late in office,” the TDAP chairman stated.
“Currently, we have run short of officials and each official have been working on more than one portfolio which is an uphill task but we are doing our best to achieve excellence so far as the TDAP is concerned,” he explained further.
Now with the grace of Almighty Allah TDAP is back on right track to development and excellence as when I took charge last year TDAP has run short of funds to conduct 118 exhibition while this year 146 exhibitors would conducted and we have far sufficient funds, he informed.
In answer to a question, he said that as soon as the new government took over it slashed 30 percent of the funds of all most all the organization and the same pattern TDAP had to follow too.
TDAP’s funds dropped from Rs 2 billion to Rs 1.30 billion of which 50 percent is for the remuneration of the officials while 50 percent is spent on overall exhibitions and delegation handling etc, he disclosed, paying tributes to FIA that recovered Rs 25 crores from the looters.
Furthermore, he told this scribe that he has introduced full corporate culture in TDAP and in this endeavor he was fully supported by Commerce Minister Khuram Dastgir and Secretary Azmat Gondal.
He, however, accepted that export unfortunately tumbled down against his wishes and claims that exporters would be doubled but I was unaware of the worldwide economic recession and the export declined as against my statements.
He supplemented that due to the sharp decline in oil prices commodity prices fell down that ultimately adversely affected the country’s export, bringing down the export by 14.1 percent while India had to face a decline of 18 percent, China 12, Indonesia and Japan’s 14 percent and Turkey’s 20.
Alone Bangladesh exceptionally has enjoyed an upward trend in export due to its special status of exporting and importing goods on zero duty rates throughout the world and the same recession will remain continue for the next one year, he underscored.
While talking about refund and rebate, he informed that sadly the government has to return Rs 300 billion of the business community Rs 60 billion has been refunded to the businessmen in the last two months due to the special efforts of the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Rs 30 to 40 billion refunds have further accumulated as the business of exports is on-going.
The FBR has achieved Rs 3100 billion revenue target and it should also take care of the businessmen’s refund and rebate bringing it to a nil enabling them to invest their stuck-up investment in the business for growth and development,” the TDAP chairman said.
He, however, concluded that Pakistan has huge potential of exports, which if at the government level it is taken care and the exporters are provided with a level playing field, can be explore to great extent besides he expressed his hope that bright economic future of the Pakistan in the results of the incumbent government’s far-reaching reforms and measure is not far away and nothing can stop the country from becoming Asian tiger.
