January 25, 2003	Saturday	Ziqa’ad 21, 1423

KARACHI, Jan 24: Denial of exceptional flexibility by the European Union (EU) during 2002 quota year would mean embargo on bedlinen, towels, pants and shorts.

This information was passed on to Minister for Commerce Humayun Akhtar Khan by the Quota Supervisory Council (QSC) officials in a meeting held in EPB here on Friday.

The minister was briefed about the issues of Textile Quota Management as well as linkages between ministry of commerce, EPB and QSC. The association of the private sector in the management of textile quota through QSC was also explained.

The minister was informed that the reason for the imposition of embargo on these categories was that the EU did not give exceptional flexibilities on these categories in 2002. There was approximately 3 per cent over-shipment during 2002 in these categories leading to the embargo.

Humayun Akhtar Khan asked the EPB to immediately take such steps which can assist in lifting of embargo at the earliest.

He was briefed about the computerized system of Textile Quota Management and efforts to upgrade the system. It was explained that efforts are being made to get early computer connectivity with the US customs through the ELVIS system to resolve the issue of discrepancies in data.

The minister urged that similar arrangements may be made with the EU in the interest of smooth quota management.