KARACHI, Jan 31: Leaders of textile bodies have protested a recent move by the government removing a senior civil servant from a key post in the ministry of commerce. In their press statements they have expressed resentment over the move.

A few days back secretary commerce Mirza Qamar Baig was removed and made OSD (officer on special duty) without assigning any reason. This development sent a shock wave in the textile sector, which had been leaning upon his expertise particularly under the on-going tense trade relations with the European Union.

According to their view, with the exit of Mirza Qamar Baig from the ministry of commerce the country lost an expert well versed in handling textile issues, more particularly those related to quotas, anti-dumping duties and WTO.

“It is a great blow to the interest of textile exports, which constitutes nearly 70 per cent of total exports of the country,” asserted former chairman Pakistan Bedwear Exporters Association PBEA, Shabir Ahmed.

Removal of Mr. Baig’s at a critical juncture when anti-dumping duty on bedlinen from European Union is looming and the WTO regime is around the corner, is no less than a self-inflicting move, he added.

The founder chairman of Towel Manufacturers Association (TMA) S M A Rizvi said, “it is unfair to treat a person who served for 35 year in such a manner.”

He said presently there are only three experts of quotas, anti-dumping and issues related to embargoes, out of these three, he further said, Izharul Haq has retired, Naseem Qureshi is posted at Geneva, and Mirza Qamar Baig has been removed unceremoniously.

S M A Rizvi said that the issue of over-shipment to EU member states has risen only after Pakistan declined to purchase Airbus and opted for American Boeing aircraft. He found it to be a political decision. If at all it is the EPB, which annoyed the EU.

Rizvi said when the commerce minister during his meetings with the EU trade chief sorted out the matter and they agreed to allow 2000 tons from special flexibility for category 9, the EPB should not have approached the EU for the same treatment for category 6 and 20.

The incumbent chairman of PBEA Aziz Jamal said it is obvious from the developments that the EU which had been allowing special flexibility quota years after years suddenly disallowed the same this year. One could easily reach to the conclusion as to why the EU has changed its attitude towards Pakistan after giving 15 per cent extra market access as well as removal of customs tariff on all items less than an year ago.

Pakistan Cotton Fashion Apparel Manufacturers Association chairman Khawaja Mohammad Usman, while expressing similar views requested the Prime minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali and President General Pervez Musharraf to reinstate Mirza Qamar Baig so that the export trade can continue to benefit from his talent and experience.

The minister for commerce Humayun Akhtar Khan in a recent meeting with members of Quota Supervisory Council (QSC) had categorically asked them to discuss any matter but not the issues related with textile quota.

Citing an example the former chairman PBEA Shabir Ahmed in a letter addressed to vice chairman EPB has expressed his regret over the non-availability of the director Textile Quota Management. He said, “whenever I call on telephone Mohammed Yahya, director TQM, is not available and he even does not have the courtesy to call me back.”

Mirza Qamar Baig for the last three years had been serving as secretary commerce and prior to this assignment he served as chief secretary Balochistan, where he became unpopular for his strict discipline. He also severed as vice-chairman EPB.