Islamabad: The services of Director, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Khalid Rasool were suspended due to failure to make sufficient arrangements for Citrus Expo.
Sources told that TDAP had organized Citrus Expo here at a local hotel and Secretary Commerce Younis Dahgha, foreigners, diplomats, businessmen and others were invited. When Secretary Commerce Younis Gahgha along with other official reached at the venue, instead of Citrus expo, the site was presenting a barren look.
The management of the expo has fixed 11:00 a.m time but no one was there to welcome the guests. It showed non-seriousness of the top officials of the TDAP, which not only gave negative impression of the authority but also hurt efforts being made to maximize export ratio.
The basic purpose of organizing Citrus expo was to encourage the Kinnow growers, highlight efforts of the government to portray best products of the county, increase exports and introduce Pakistani citrus in the new international markets so that foreign reserves could had been increased. Secretary Commerce taking action against non-serious attitude of the official concerned issued directives regarding his suspension of services.
It is worth to mention that Expo Pakistan is the biggest trade fair, organized by Trade Development Authority (TDAP), which is a premier trade promotion organization of Pakistan. The platform of Expo Pakistan provides opportunity to showcase the largest collection of country’s Export merchandise and services.
In the expos, foreign buyers are invited from all over the world by government of Pakistan, not only to see the product potential but also to avail the option of having on-spot B2B meetings with Pakistani exporters. Foreign exhibitors, also use this platform to launch & display their products.
It is unfortunate that on the one hand, the incumbent government was boasting and making tall claims regarding improving export ratio while on the other hand, due to slackness of the officials concerned, businessmen intending to organize and participate were reluctant to make any advancement, in this regard.
