Your issue of July 17 carries a report on the back page entitled "Bedwear exporters not satisfied with trade policy", in which according to Shabbir Ahmed, Chairman, Pakistan Bedwear Exporters Association, "the trade policy has brought no relief to the bedwear sector as most of its demands remained unmet in the policy". The report gave further details on the statement of the PBEA Chief.

On July 19, just two days later, there was a front page advertisement in your esteemed newspaper, placed among others by the PBEA , which proclaims that "WE HEARTILY CONGRATULATE AND ARE INDEED GRATEFUL TO (there are pictures of the PM, the Commerce Minister and the Commerce Secretary) FOR PRESENTING A MOST REVOLUTIONARY AND PRAGMATIC TRADE POLICY 1996-97".

It seems that in less then 24 hours, considering that the advertisement was prepared and released atleast a day before, the PBEA did a very "practical" volte-face ! The question is : Is the Recorder report correct or is the advertisement the "right choice" ? Over to PBEA !

Yours etc :

Mike Baxter