Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) has become a white elephant with a massive drain on public resources on innumerable foreign exhibitions in popular tourist destinations, but the resultant exports are taking a nosedive. According to official sources, despite organising almost 400 international trade exhibitions in different parts of the world in the last four years and spending more than Rs 4.01 billion, TDAP has failed to increase the country’s exports.

TDAP is the main body which organises International Trade Exhibitions and Expo’s in Pakistan and around the world to display the Pakistani items so Pakistan exports can be enhanced. The documents available with Daily Times show that during the years 2012 to 2016, the Ministry of Commerce allocated more than Rs 4.01 billion and consequently TDAP sent different delegations to participate in the exhibitions.

During the fiscal year 2012-13, the Ministry sanctioned Rs 1 billion and TDAP participated in 87 exhibitions in Europe, China, Asia and Middle East, America and Africa. Meanwhile its expenditure stood at Rs 906 million and country exports were recorded at $ 25 billion. In the fiscal year 2013-14, the Ministry approved Rs 1 billion and TDAP participated in 92 exhibitions in five different countries. TDAP spent Rs 907 million on this count but exports reduced to $ 24 billion.

To increase exports, the government in 2014 brought in Canadian national and close friend of premier SM Munir to head TDAP. During the fiscal year 2014-15, TDAP participated in 92 International trade exhibitions and spent the entire allocated budget amounting to Rs 1 billion but in spite of a remarkable surge in export trends, Pakistani exports dipped to $ 23.6 billion.

During the third year of the present government’s tenure in 2015-16, the Ministry of commerce earmarked Rs 1 billion for trade promotion. This time the organisation participated in 116 exhibitions in different parts of the world but due to poor performance of TDAP in displaying the items, the exports plunged to $ 20.8 billion against the target of $25 billion. The Transparency International had raised objections on the appointment of Chairman TDAP S.M. Munir. It said S. M. Muneer had been appointed on the basis of cronyism, violating all rules and regulations. “His age, education and nationality are against the criteria of appointment of a person as CEO under the TDAP Act 2013, as a trade politician and businessman cannot be CEO of TDAP therefore government should remove this person from the important post.”

Senate standing committee on commerce has also expressed serious reservations on the performance of TDAP. The committee is of the view that TDAP as a trade promotion body has failed to highlight Pakistani products in different market. It is better this organisation should be closed as it has become the burden on the government exchequer.