TRADING IN USED EQUIPMENT IS THE SPECIALIST LINE THAT COL.SALIM AHMAD NASIR, A RETIRED PAKISTAN ARMY OFFICER, HAS BUILT UP OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS. HE STARTED BUSINESS AT A TIME WHEN THE GULF ECONOMIES HAD GONE INTO RECESSION AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES WERE SELLING OFF USED EQUIPMENT AT LOW PRICES. "FROM 1981 UP TO 1988, A NUMBER OF FOREIGN CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES IN THE GULF STATES WERE WINDING UP, SELLING, THEIR EQUIPMENT AT WHATEVER PRICE THEY COULD GET. THERE WAS A HUGE SURPLUS IN THE REGION, EVEN AS ECONOMIES IN THE FAR EAST, USA AND EUROPE WERE GOING THROUGH A BOOM. "HAVING WORKED FOR A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FOR TWO YEARS THAT ITSELF WAS WINDING UP, I ENTERED THE BUSINESS ON MY OWN, BUYING THE EQUIPMENT FOR CLIENTS IN THE FAR EAST, USA AND EUROPE. IT WAS STRENUOUS WORK THAT TOOK ME TO CONSTRUCTION COMPANY YARDS ALL OVER THE UAE, KUWAIT AND SAUDI ARABIA. THE OPERATION RESULTED IN A HUGE TURNOVER AND EXTENSIVE BUSINESS CONTACTS WITH DEALERS ABROAD. SINCE 1988, THE TREND HAS REVERSED WITH CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY PICKING UP IN THE GULF STATES," COL.SALIM STATED. TRIPLE A ARE NOW MAINLY IMPORTING THE MACHINES FROM EUROPE, JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES FOR SALES IN THE GULF STATES. THEY BUY ONLY THE TOP CONDITION MACHINERY THAT IS ASSESSED AND RATED BY BUYER'S REPRESENTATIVES OR THIRD PARTY INSPECTORS.