ISLAMABAD, Nov 7: President Gen. Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday approved an ordinance to give legal cover to the newly-formed Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) replacing the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) with a claim to bring a quantum jump in exports.

The ordinance has been issued just three days ahead of the National Assembly session on Friday while it was lying with the president secretariat for the last over one month. After approval by the president, the law ministry would formally notify the ordinance for setting up of the new organisation any time.

The government had backed out of its assurance to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce to constitute the new office through an Act of the Parliament. The government also appointed current chairman EPB Tariq Ikram as CEO of the authority in violation of the rules and merit. Mr Ikram has been heading the office of the EPB for the last six years uninterrupted.

Reacting on the establishment of the new organisation through an ordinance, Chairman NASCC MNA Iqbal Muhammad Ali criticised the government move saying he would soon convene a meeting to discuss the issue.

Talking to Dawn, he said the government had violated its commitment held out to the committee that the new organisation would be set up through a bill. "I do not see any hurry for issuance of the ordinance as the assembly is already scheduled to meet on November 10," he remarked.

The committee, he said would go through the ordinance and would recommend suggestion for amendments. However, he said the question would also be raised in the National Assembly in this regard.

Peoples Party Parliamentarian MNA Naveed Qamar told Dawn that the government was trying to avoid the regular procedure for legislation because they did not want parliamentary scrutiny in the setting up of this new organisation.

“The government has violated its commitment made to the standing committee in this regard, which he said is regrettable,” Mr Qamar remarked.

Calls to EPB Chairman Tariq Ikram were not returned.

Meanwhile, the prime minister also approved the board of the TDAP that would include 10 members from the private sector. While the government and chambers of commerce and industry officials would be its ex-officio members. The total strength of the board would arrive at 27 members.