LAHORE, Aug 5: A former president of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the government to devise an 'indigenous' strategy to revamp the Export Promotion Bureau instead of seeking consultancy from abroad for restructuring the institution.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Pervaiz Hanif said the EPB must be given under the control of the private sector by inducting leading exporters on its board. "These people, who are conversant with the problems of their respective sectors, can play a pivotal role in finding solutions."

He also stressed the need for effective but professional management to strengthen the EPB role in the national economy's development. Mr Hanif further suggested that the EPB must be taken out of the control of the commerce ministry. "Rather it should be answerable directly to the prime minister regarding its performance."

He said: "It is a longstanding demand of the exporters to restructure the EPB. The government should design the EPB restructuring programme keeping in view its efficacy to enhance the country's exports, besides resolving the exporters' grievances."

He said the government should provide administrative and financial autonomy to the EPB so as to enable it to take immediate decision for redress of the problems facing the exporters.

"If the government needs some pattern to follow, the example of CETRA of Taiwan could be the most suitable as a role model," he said. "The CETRA was developed with a view to strengthening the small and medium enterprises and Pakistan also needs to take measures for the promotion of SMEs, which in turn will gear up the growth of national economy," he said.