KARACHI, Aug 14: The Quota Supervisory Council (QSC) clarified on Saturday that it had never recommended over-programming in fast moving categories like 363 (USA) and 4 and 5 of the European Union.

Referring to a news item published in Dawn, QSC chairman Abdul Aziz Memon said that in fact the council in its meetings held on June 22 and August 4, which was also attended by QSC member Tahir Jahangir, recommended over-programming of 20 per cent in those categories where utilization was 40 per cent and 10 per cent.

He said that no over-programming was recommended in those categories where utilization was above 50 per cent. In categories 363 (USA), 4 and 5 (EU), the utilization is already above 50 per cent.

The QSC chairman said that categories 363 (USA) and 4 and 5 (EU) on first-come-first-served (FCFS) basis are residual quotas and become available after allocating 100 per cent of the performance to the performance-holders and adjusting over-shipments.

Mr Memon claimed that due to the placement of quotas of category 4 and 5 on FCFS, the quota premium went down by more than 25 per cent. "This is a positive reaction after the issuance of EPB's public notice," he added.

Our Reporter adds: This proves that the house of the Quota Supervisory Council is not in a proper order, particularly when its own member Tahir Jahangir is not satisfied with the working and method of the allocation of textile quota. With regard to views expressed by other exporters against the FCFS, it can be stated that being the stakeholders they have all the right to speak in the interest of exports.