The Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry has demanded that a comprehensive strategy should be adopted to explore new markets for the export of various traditional items for permanent export earnings.
In an interview with Business Recorder on Sunday, President, Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Mian Muhammad Hanif said that with a view to bringing about industrial revolution in the country it was necessary to collect taxes from industrial sector through one-window system.
He said at present about 56 different government organisations, including TMAs were collecting taxes from the industry, adding that all the five departments of textile; spinning, weaving, sizing, processing and hosiery were facing problems but in spite of all that the industry had been supporting the national economy.
He said now there was a great need of taking solid steps for exporting agricultural implements, furniture, fruits and vegetables etc,. for earning more foreign exchange and strengthening the national economy instead of giving attention towards the export of textiles only.
He said that Tehsil Chiniot enjoyed a good reputation in producing export quality furniture but the foreign buyers had no access to that market due to which this sector could not get required progress in the right direction.
Mian Hanif demanded of the government to fully patronise the furniture producing industry and comprehensive arrangements should be made to export furniture items. A delegation of furniture manufacturers should be sent abroad for creating export vision as well as to search new international markets, he added.
He emphasised the need to establish a training institute equipped with the latest machinery in the Chiniot area.
The FCCI chief said that soap manufacturing industry was also progressing but the government was not giving a reasonable attention towards it, adding that a prominent place could be achieved in the international market by exporting soap and allied products.
He said the Export Promotion Bureau would have to explore new markets for the export of various traditional items and ensure exchange of delegations by seeking the co-operation of industrialists.
The FCCI president said that local industrialists and business community took an active part in privatisation process, introduced by the present government, and played vital role in bringing Muslim Commercial Bank, Allied Bank, Cement factories and recently Pak American Fertiliser company into the private sector.
He also appreciated the key role of Ibrahim Group and Nishat Group in this respect.
Mian Hanif urged upon trade organisations to pay special attention towards energy audit for introducing new methods of saving in Sui gas, electricity, furnace oil and other energy resources.
He asked all industrial units to complete the process of installing water treatment plants in their premises on priority basis, as like human beings, machinery also needs clean and transparent water and other liquids to meet the international quality standards.
Mian Hanif urged leading industrialists as well as small traders to start social welfare projects and spend more for the benefit of their workers by moving along with the government organisations and particularly try to provide maximum possible facilities like education, health and cleanliness to the children of industrial workers.
He also urged the government to launch a comprehensive programme of technical education as early as possible.
Mian Hanif said that now circumstances were changing and the organisation like Employees' Old Age Benefit Institution was even constructing four-star hotels in big cities, of which one would be constructed in Faisalabad.
He said, on the whole a shortfall had occurred in the export of textiles for which the government and the exporters would have to join hands for taking appropriate steps.
FCCI Chief Mian Hanif said that under a long-term policy it was necessary to shift all the factories/ powerlooms out of the residential areas.
He said that City District Nazim Faisalabad, Rana Zahid Tauseef was taking keen interest in that particular issue in result of which this plan would be completed.
Talking about the role of chamber, he said that very soon a system would be evolved under which the details of import/export companies, industrial units and other relevant information would be provided on the FCCI website enabling the foreign buyers to get all required information from there.
He said this comprehensive plan would be completed within next two months for which the chambers' research and development cells were actively engaged.
About the preparation of budget proposals for the next fiscal year 2006-07, Mian Hanif said that the proposals would be sent to the government after detailed discussion and exchange of views with all traders and organisations representatives.
He said that four special help desks of sales tax, income tax, customs and banking were being set up in the Chamber from where free legal aid and guidance could be provided to the members.
The FCCI president disclosed that relief goods worth Rs 200 million had so far been dispatched for the earthquake victims by the Chamber while a school and a hospital were also being established in Bagh, Azad Kashmir.
Appreciating the efforts made by the FCCI members, Mian Hanif said that all of them worked round the clock with dedication for providing relief goods and related services to the earthquake-hit people.
He particularly lauded the role of Mian Muhammad Idrees, former President FCCI, Mian Javed Iqbal, Chairman, FCCI Relief Committee, Vice Chairman Musadaq Zulqurnain and Abdul Qayyum in providing maximum possible relief goods to the affected families. He further said that an industrial exhibition "EXPO-2006" was going to be held in Faisalabad from April 19, 2006 in which stalls of international level would be set up.
He said that dress show and food street would also be arranged in the exhibition, while separate stalls of gems and jewellery would also be set up.
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