October 23, 2003	Thursday	Sha’aban 26, 1424

LAHORE, Oct 22: Some Quota Supervisory Council (QSC) members are trying to convene an emergency meeting of the council to discuss the Export Promotion Bureau’s failure to release funds to it which is hampering its smooth and independent functioning.

According to QSC member Shahzad Azam Khan, some members have proposed mobilization of funds for the council’s functions by pooling funds by the members to meet the pressing needs as an interim arrangement.

Another member noted with dismay that “this forum representing the private sector and responsible for helping the government to draw quota policies in the interest of smaller exporters has been made a rubber stamp by the commerce ministry and the EPB.” He proposed to other QSC members to draw up a strategy for restoring the authority and functionality of the council.

The sources say that the shortage of funds has brought a situation where its staff is leaving due to nonpayment of salaries. Even the new QSC office does not have access to its e-mail account because of lack of money to pay the ISP.

The sources say the QSC and the EPB are not enjoying cordial relations in the recent days because of the council’s proactive role this year to pre-empt EPB moves to favour the quota mafia.

However, the council is now said to have been crippled by the absence of staff although its members continue to perform with a skeleton staff for fair distribution of quota.