New industrial policy: FCCI must present recommendations: NPO CE

FAISALABAD: The Faisalabad Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) must present workable and viable recommendations for the new industrial policy to resolve their industry related issues in addition to discourage wastage of energy so that the production cost could be brought down and maximum surplus products could be exported at competitive rates in the international markets, said Muhammad Alamgir Chaudhry Chief Executive Officer (CEO) National Productivity Organization (NPO).

Addressing a function at FCCI he quoted a report of World Bank and said that it had picked 336 units from all over the country and their energy audit was conducted. “Out of these, 50 percent units were linked with the textile sector,” he said and added that startling facts were revealed that electricity to the tune of Rs4 billion could be saved by plugging the loopholes in only these 336 units. He also quoted the clay ovens of the ceramics industry in Gujranwala and said that these were also wasting 60 percent of gas.

He said that NPO is providing the facility of energy audit to stop wastage of electricity. Industrialists could easily check the energy wastage with this facility which is being offered on a “no profit, no loss” basis.

He said that the government of Punjab also funded a scheme for the leather, engineering, auto and surgical sectors. FCCI should also pressurize the government to include textile in it so that innovation could be brought in this sector which was earning heavy foreign exchange for the country. He said that at least 15 to 20 percent potential saving of electricity could be made in the local industrial sector.

He further said that NPO head office is situated at Islamabad while it has six offices across the country. “Four are housed in provincial capitals while remaining two are in Faisalabad and Multan,” he said and added that the local industrialists should avail from this facility for improving quality and quantity of their products with the technical advice of NPO officials.

Responding to a question, he said that the global size of engineering is 53 percent while textile share is only 4 to 5 percent. Hence we must focus on the promotion of the engineering sector and pave the way for the high value textile products to earn maximum profit.

He also mentioned other facilities of the NPO and said that through the financial support and subsidy of the Asia Productivity Organization, NPO could arrange foreign technical experts of a specific sector to increase productivity. Similarly, study tours could also be arranged with the help of APO.

He said that APO could fully fund the study tour of six individuals but in case of an increase in their numbers, the concerned sector must bear its expenditures partially.

Responding to a question, Alamgir Chaudhry said that he could request TEVTA to arrange local and international experts of Artificial Intelligence to train master trainers as this segment was growing at a much faster pace.

Responding to yet another question, he said that the share of the engineering sector is 60 percent at global level while its share in Pakistan is less than one percent and this situation is further aggravated in case of the hi-tech sector.

He said that we have Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) to regulate the quality of products. It is handicapped with the resources and is regulating the standard of only 166 products. “Out of these, 90 percent are related to the food sector,” he said and added that PSQCA had 8-9 laboratories across the country and for the last one month the regulator has cancelled accreditation of all its laboratories.

Vice President FCCI Hajji Muhammad Aslam Bhalli presented a welcome address while Rana Sikandar Azam offered vote of thanks. A question-answer session was also held which was participated by Dr Habib Aslam Gaba, Muhammad Tayyab, Saif ul Qahhar and Samia Bukhari.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023