September 4, 2003	Thursday	Rajab 6, 1424

KARACHI, Sept 3: Chairman Pakistan Cloth Merchants Association (PCMA) Ahmed Chinoy has urged the Minister for Commerce to allow all special quotas transferable.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the PCMA chief said that premium for most of the quota categories to the US, EU, Canada and Turkey has gone very high and the manufacturers and exporters are experiencing great hardship and it was becoming difficult for them to meet their export commitments.

He said if permission for transfer of special quotas, including auction quota, over-programming, flexibilities (swing and shift) was granted it would help bring down premium prices in the open market.

Ahmed Chinoy said similar situation existed during last two years and the government took necessary measures which helped to bring down quota prices.

He further said that additional flexibility quota of 4000 tons, which is going to be allowed for EU quota categories 6, 9 and 20, the over-programming blocked quota of 2002, be released against this flexibility and be made transferable.