KARACHI, May 20: Pakistani exhibitors could not display their products at a textile fair in Australia because the Export Promotion Bureau failed to deliver these goods booked two months ago.

The exhibitors told Dawn by telephone from Melbourne that most of their stalls were vacant and only those products were exhibited which they managed to carry by themselves or got delivered privately through courier services.

They complained that the EPB took the delivery of goods from them two months ago for onward shipment to Melbourne for the 'Textile and Classic' fair held on May 18-20.

However, on May 13, the EPB informed the exhibitors that their shipping agent expressed his inability for haulage of these goods. Hard pressed with time, some of the exhibitors somehow managed to carry goods by their own, while others got courier services.

In total five exhibitors participated in the fair. Four of them managed to display some of their products, while one could not display his goods. These exhibitors said that even the EPB stall was not open and there was no official to look after the affairs at the fair.

However, the exhibitors informed the Pakistani consul general who visited the fair that at the official level there was no Pakistani representation and even the publicity and promotional materials were not available.

The consul general informed the exhibitors that he did not receive any material from the EPB. He said he was not in a position to do anything, participants to the fair told Dawn.

Against such a dismal performance, Indian and Chinese stalls were seen all around the fair and there were high level official representations as well. "It was an embarrassing situation for us."

They said that India and China had some 70 stalls at the fair and they dominated the show. The exhibitors appealed to the government to hold an inquiry into the matter and take all those responsible to task so that such mishap might be avoided in future.