Association of Buildings and Developers (Abad) North Zone Chairman Engr Akber Sheikh, while congratulating the federal government and the Governor Punjab for successfully campaigning for GSP plus status for Pakistan exports to EU, has called for increasing garment production capacity to take full advantage of the anticipated duty-free market access.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Engr Akber Sheikh, who has earlier served as Chairman Constructors Association of Pakistan (CAP) and as Chairman All Pakistan Textile Mills Association APTMA Punjab, congratulated the federal government and the Governor Punjab for successfully campaigning for GSP plus status for Pakistan exports to EU resulting in positive vote at INTA meeting. He expressed the hope that EU parliament's plenary session will also result in positive outcome.
Sheikh said job creation is the single most important tool in the fight against terrorism. He stated that to gain the full benefit of the anticipated duty free market access, Pakistan will have to increase its garment production capacity manifold. In this regard the 1,000 acres garment park proposed by the government of Punjab is a welcome step.
However, chairman ABAD proposed, as an immediate step, construction of smaller hybrid garment parks spread over the province. He offered to set up a hybrid garment park over an area of about 200 acres, near Lahore. In the proposed garment park, the garment manufacturing area will have adjacent housing scheme for workers. The housing scheme will provide health, education and vocational training facilities at workers doorsteps.
Abad has offered to set up the garment park with facility for 5,000 stitching machines. The park will provide employment for 10,000 workers. These workers will be provided housing under the CM Ashiana Housing model or Prime Minister 500,000 houses initiative if long-term housing loans can be provided to the workers. The proposed garment park will provide annual exports worth 150 million dollars.
Comments
Comments are closed.