FAISALABAD, Jan 31: Lack of analytical market studies is still major weakness of Pakistani exports trade, and trade counsellors abroad have not been fully involved and made responsible for promotion of export.

This was stated by Mian Ahmad Kamal, chairman, All Pakistan Cloth Exporters Association, while talking to newsmen, about 'Export Responsibilities and WTO', here on Saturday.

He expressed great satisfaction that textile exporters had braced themselves up to face the challenges of WTO.

Within a short span of two years the textile exporters have graduated from manufacturers and exporters of grey cloth to manufacturers and exporters of value-added items. Two years ago, there were only 300 auto and jet looms in Faisalabad, which had increased to 3000. Similarly there were only 10 exporters having printing machinery facilities of their own presently more than 40 exporters had installed printing and finishing machinery and more units were coming up. Many of the exporting units had also graduated in to ready-made garments manufacturers and exporters, he added.

An important aspect of this development, he explained that all this achievements had been made on self-help basis without any assistance or guidance from government side. Another achievement worth mentioning in respect of exporters bracing up for new worlds trade order is that majority of the exporters had acquired international standards certification like ISO-9000, 9001, 9002, and 9014. Some exporters had also acquired Certification SA-28 and were complying with the environmental regulations as well. All this has again been achieved voluntarily and without any assistance or guidance from the government, he added.

Criticising the frequent changes in SRO regime the APCEA chairman said the changes disfigure the basics of the policy or rules and regulations. Resultantly the exporter could not plan his year-long export schedule in the face of uncertainties and fluctuations of rules of business.

Yet another big irritant besetting the exporters was inordinate delays in sales tax refund system and duty drawback regime. Huge amounts of exporters capital were stuck up restraining their export turnover and their ability to execute more export orders. The magnitude of this problem could be gauged from the fact that two months ago Rs4 billion were reported to be blocked in refund system alone, he said.

APCEA chief observed that the WTO means open competition. Open competition means competitive prices; competitive prices mean minimum possible cost of production. Unfortunately Pakistani exporter is not enjoying level-playing filed with regard to cost of production, he pointed out.

He said fundamental weakness of Pakistan's export trade was lack of aggressive marketing. Pakistani exporters had been very tardy in this field. He said constant efforts had not been made to market export goods.

Korean war boom in 1953 initiated export culture in Pakistan, since then the exporters had focussed on traditional markets of Europe and America.

Recently, he said, exporters had started making efforts in diversification of exports through value-added items as well as exploring new markets in Australia and South America through individual efforts.

Ahmad Kamal emphasized the imperative need of organized efforts for exploring new markets because the resources of individual exporters were very limited. Lately EPB has tried to cover this weakness but the requisite vigour and vitality was lacking in the bureaucratic approach and indifferent mindset of government officials.

He said the non-availability of appropriate banking channels was another hurdle to export trade in central Asian Republics and also African continent countries.