'Floriculture could do miracle for national economy'

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and industrialist Muhammad Pervez Malik has said that floral industry is one of the biggest industries of the world and this industry could play a vital role in bringing economic turnaround for the country.
"A little attention towards floriculture could do miracle for the national economy, while private sector should come forward, avail the opportunity and reap the fruit, not only for themselves but for the Pakistan," he said while speaking at the flower show organised by Horticultural Society of Pakistan (HSP) here at the Jillani Park.
Former Chairman Wapda Tariq Hameed, Chairman of HSP Syed Baber Ali, Vice Chairman Ibrar A Mumtaz, Secretary General Lieutenant Colonel Sajid Ikram (Retd), Finance Secretary Sardar Baber Fareed, Executive Committee members, a large city elites, businessmen and students were present on the occasion.
Pervez Malik said that floral industry is one of the major industries in many developing countries. "Today floral industry has become fast growing, global and dynamic and has achieved significant growth rate during the last few years. In the decade of 50s, the global flower trade was less than $3 billion but not it has grown to more than $100 billion and growing with the impressive rate of 6 percent annually," he said. He said that Netherlands has the most prominent position in respect of flower cultivation and industrial scale.
He said that Pakistan was located at ideal geographic location having four seasons, fertile land and cheap but hard work labour. He said that climate in Pakistan is most appropriate for the floral industry and country could earn huge foreign exchange by exporting flowers. He said that many countries of the world were earning huge foreign exchange by the flower's trade who have not an ideal climate but in Pakistan no concrete measures have so far been taken for the promotion of floral industry. He said it was a matter of concern that Pakistan has almost no share in the international flower trade of more than $100 billion. He urged the Pakistan's private sector to concentrate on the floral industry and earn much-needed huge foreign exchange for the country.
Malik paid rich tributes to the management of Horticultural Society of Pakistan for holding a marvellous flower show. He said that such activities were need of the hour.
Chairman of Horticultural Society of Pakistan Syed Baber Ali in his address said that this show is important and historic event in the calendar of Lahore, which is being held regularly for the last 60 years. Speaking on the occasion, former Chairman Wapda & Vice Chairman of Horticultural Society of Pakistan Tariq Hamid said that they are promoting the cause of horticulture in the country.