KARACHI, Jan 5: A large number of exporters have criticized the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) for fixing January 15, 2002 for carrying out first auction of residual quota of textile.

The representative bodies of exporters have been approached by their members in large number expressing their resentment over the fixation of such a date by EPB for quota auction when most of exporters would be away from the country.

As a result these trade bodies have approached Secretary Commerce Mirza Qamar Baig seeking his intervention for extending the auction date till middle of next month.

In a communication to the secretary commerce, the vice-chairman Towel Manufacturers’ Association of Pakistan (TMA), S M A Rizvi pointed out that at the moment almost all the exporters are busy in their homework for participation in Heimtextil Fair scheduled to be held from Jan 9 to 13, 2002.

He further said that as usual most of these exporters would also be visiting other markets of Europe, USA, and Canada to have direct contact with their buyers. As a result of this, he said no exporter is expected to return home before first week of next month.

In order to make this auction successful and also to give fair chance to every exporter to participate in the auction, he said TMA would like that the date of first auction be extended from Jan 15 to Feb 15, 2002.

In a similar communication to the secretary commerce, the chairman Pakistan Bedwear Exporters Association (PBEA) expressed his fears that in the absence of genuine exporters the quota brokers would manipulate the quota market by blocking the quota and our chance to fully benefit from the zero rate tariff allowed to our exports by European Union will be lost.

He further said that PBEA members were surprised as to why the EPB is holding the auction on Jan 15, 2002, when it is fully aware of the fact that exporters and their staff members would be in Frankfurt to attend the Heimtextil fair.