Chairman, Planning Commission (PC), Dr Akram Sheikh on Wednesday said the government has increased its annual utilisation which is likely to reach to Rs 250 billion during the current fiscal year as compared to Rs 200 of previous year.
Talking to newsmen after addressing the concluding session of International Foundry Congress and Exhibition 2006 organised by Foundry Association of Pakistan, here on Wednesday, Sheikh said work on various development projects is under progress.
Bhasha Dam Work could start in two years and new dams would help get rid of electricity shortage in the country. However, we are trying to explore alternative energy like solar energy and planned to electrify 400 villages under solar energy system, he added.
Over 400 delegates from the industrial sector of Pakistan, including some 50 delegates/exhibitors from India, UK, Germany, Turkey, Iran, China, Japan and Saarc countries participated in the 2-day event.
Similarly, the government is developing roads network in the country and an amount of Rs 25 billion has been made available to National Highway Authority (NHA) for this purpose.
He stressed the need for setting up of common facility centres for the uplift of foundry industry which should establish training centre to impart training to youth so that their need in this regard could be fulfilled, he added.
Razzak Dawood, former federal minister for commerce, asked the foundries to use latest technology and skilled manpower in the industry. Infrastructure development in the engineering sector was crucial for the advancement of foundries.
Appreciating the initiatives taken by the Pakistan Foundry Association (PFA) in organising this moot, he said it had brought all the stakeholders on one platform which will lay strong foundation for the development and growth of foundries in Pakistan.
He further said: "If we want to compete at the highest level we have to improve infrastructure, introduce advanced technology, ensure better facilities and train our skilled and semi-skilled work force."
Sikandar Mustafa Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Foundry Association (PFA), in his closing remarks said, "The PFA is very happy to realise the success of one of the most ambitious events, undertaken by the PFA, and it is my privilege and honour to thank all the foreign and local delegates to have contributed to the success of the Congress."
Through the day, delegates took part in the technical sessions addressed by experts including Dr P.K. Basutkar, Staffhen Hendricks, Ahson Arshad, Ameer Haider and D.D.Vas.
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