Islamabad
Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Commerce and Textile Industry Senator Mirza Muhammad Afridi has summoned the officials of the ministry of commerce to clarify their position after receiving complaints regarding misuse of the Export Development Fund (EDF). The commerce officials have been asked to appear before the committee on October 22 and bring the record of disbarments made during the last five years and stop disbursements to trade associations unless endorsed by the committee. It may be mentioned that almost two decades back Export Development Surcharge was imposed on exports without the sanction of stakeholders to boost exports but the cited objective cannot be achieved. Rather, the allegations of misuse of funds by officials and influential businessmen surfaced repeatedly but to no avail.—INP
