08 November 2004	Monday	24 Ramazan 1425

ISLAMABAD, Nov 7: World Trade Organization (WTO) regime was implemented 10 years ago in 1995 when Pakistan became a signatory to it. However, successive governments have failed to prepare for challenges posed by globalization in international trade.

This was said by Dr Abid Suleri who is working with Oxfam GB Pakistan as head of programmes. He was speaking at the launch of his book 'Social Dimensions of Globalization - The case of Pakistan' on Sunday.

"Globalization is inevitable despite its uneven practical shapes due to monopolistic and arm-twisting attitude of major economic powers in international trade. But, we have to make our own way by taking strong pro-people stand during multilateral rounds of negotiations on international and regional trade," he said.

He said his book underlined all major developments, right from Havana to Cancun and impacts of WTO process on Pakistan.

Dr Suleri said: "The top notch is wrong when they go public by announcing that the WTO will be implemented in 2005. It was implemented in Pakistan 10 years ago and it has been the inefficiency and incompetency on the part of the governments to realize the dire consequences of not preparing the nation for WTO challenges."

But, there still is time to make necessary preparations before the country learns the hard way."

He stressed on a research-based position required to assess how the people in Pakistan would be affected when the government signed International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) agreements.

"We are protecting certain industries while others have been left open to be wiped out. There is no research in any sector on how industries are to be saved from WTO impacts," he said.