February 4, 2006	Saturday	Muharram 5, 1427

KARACHI, Feb 3: The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) has criticized the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) officials for their inappropriate behaviour in a meeting with leather garment exporters.

In a statement issued here on Friday, Aptma chairman (Sindh-Balochistan Zone) Mushtaq Ahmed Vohra said that the EPB could not withhold the concession allowed to leather garment exporters by the government.

Mr Vohra said that the export trade was already under tremendous pressure owing to higher cost of inputs and tough competition from China, India and Bangladesh in the world market. Instead of facilitating, he said, the EPB officers were creating difficulties for exporters. He saw no wisdom of retaining 250 EPB staff at the cost of exporters.

He demanded that the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), which is being set up to promote exports, should engage only competent officers.

Pakistan Bedwear Exporters Association chairman Shabir Ahmed urged the government to take serious action against the EPB officials for misbehaviour.