Exploiting GSP Plus opportunity: 'Hosiery sector being facilitated to boost exports'

Punjab Labour Minister Raja Ashfaq Sarwar has said that the Punjab Government is taking all out measures to exploit the opportunity of GSP Plus status and extending all possible facilities to the Hosiery Industry to promote its existing export volume of 2.3 billion dollars per annum.
He was talking to the 8-member delegation of Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association led by its Central Chairman, Ex-provincial Minister Shahzad Azam. The delegation discussed various bilateral issues regarding labour welfare and promotion of hosiery industry, informing the minister about their problems of shortage of energy and other related issues. Minister Labour said that hosiery sector was playing pivotal role in strengthening the economy with its huge export volume as well as contributing for social security of labour community. Much awaited GSP Plus status was significant to boost Pakistan's economy allowing the country with the duty-free access to European markets, enhancing exports and creating thousands of new jobs for revival of industrial sector, he added.
All ILO conventions concerning labour rights ratified by Pakistan Government inter alia legislation and enforcement mechanism was fully implemented by Punjab Government, he concluded. The Minister directed to constitute a high-level committee to review problems and issues of hosiery industry for their early redressal. Zonal Chairman Usman Jawwad, Senior Vice Chairman Rana Altaf, Founder Member Haji Shafi, Chairman Central Executive Committee Hasan Raza along with Naseer But, Abdul Hameed and Muhammad Ayoob were included in the delegation. Secretary Labour Farhan Aziz Khawaja, Commissioner PESSI Ishrat Ali, DG Labour Welfare and other senior officers of labour department were present at this occasion.