Pakistan Hunting, Sporting Arms Development Company (PHSADC) has offered all out facilitation to the manufacturers and urged them to utilise available facilities for the promotion of the development of the sector. The offer was extended here during a seminar held under the auspices of PHSADC in collaboration with University of Engineering & Technology (UET) and Small Industries Development Board (SIDB).
NWFP Minister for Irrigation, Pervez Khan Khattak was the chief guest on the occasion. Besides, the chief guest, chairman PHSADC, Nauman Wazir and Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mohammad Tariq, president Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Riaz Arshad and other officials of the company attended the event.
A large number of the stakeholders of the sector were also present on the occasion. Chairman, PHSADC said that the company is providing all out facilitation to the stakeholders of the sector. He said that a common facilitation and training centre (CFTC) has been established in the small industries estates, where the sector is being facilitated in checking roughness and hardness of the material.
He urged the stakeholders to take benefits of the facilities extended by it. He said that the better utilisation of the available facilities would help generate employment opportunities and bring increase in the exports. He offered all out co-operation to the stakeholders of the sector in this regard. He said that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has recently initiated two finance schemes for the sector. He said under refinance scheme, the manufacturers could avail credit at the rate of 8 percent while under another Credit Guarantee Scheme, instead of mortgaging of properties, the central bank offered 60 percent guarantee.
Riaz Arshad, president, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), told the manufacturers that another scheme of the issuance of soft loan up to Rs 0.5 million for small and medium enterprises would be launched shortly by the central bank. The scheme would be for a period of 3 years and 3 to 4 percent mark-up would be charged against the loan. The loan would be issued on the recommendation of the association concerned.
Chief Operating Officer (CCO), PHSADC, Mohammad Tariq said that the company is facilitating the manufacturers even in the provision of the standard material. He said that the best grading aluminium, which was not available in the domestic market, was now imported from Turkey. He said that the company also facilitating the sector in finding both domestic and foreign markets, imparting training for creation of skilled human resources and provision of finance.
Addressing the participants of the seminar, Provincial Minister Pervez Khan Khattak said that the arms sector is highly developed in the world and competition with some countries would be a big challenge for the company and local manufacturers. The challenge, he said would be met only through honest struggle and hard work. He stressed need for the development of the hunting and sporting arms manufacturing sector in the province to create employment opportunities. He urged the manufacturers to take benefit of the cheap labour force available in the province. He said that the collective efforts of both the government and stakeholders of the sector could put it on the path of progress and development.
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