Arrangements being finalized for setting up PRTTI: Ejaz

Central Chairman Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) Ejaz A. Khokhar on Tuesday said that necessary arrangements are being finalized for setting up state-of-the- art Pakistan Readymade Technical Training Institute costing over Rs 125 million. We are making adequate efforts for selecting a suitable site in central area for setting up the proposed institute to facilitate the industrial workers he said.
Talking toBusiness Recorder here Tuesday he said that concept of setting this training institute was to produce trained workforce in the field of stitching, pattern designing, quality control, inspection and sewing machine mechanics male and females separately. The training will be imparted separately to the male and female trainees in different fields in the institute he added. He said that Pakistan Readymade Technical Training Institute after regular functioning will help the exporters engaged with readymade garments industry to induct trained workforce to improve the overall productivity and quality of the product. He said at present there are 50 industrial units were producing Martial Art uniforms while 100 units are engaged in producing tracksuits and sportswear in Sialkot and catering the domestic and international needs.
He urged upon the government to formulate sector wise policies with the consultation of stakeholders for bringing boom in export of the country. The formulation of sector wise policies would not only help in increasing exports but also supportive in minimising the problems confronted by the business community he said.
PRGMEA Chairman suggested that the role of commercial officer should be made more effective and government should assigned the 10 percent export target to trade officers posted in European Union and their tenure should be linked with their performance. The Commerce Ministry should develop a mechanism for monitoring the performance of trade officers on quarterly basis for accelerating the pace of trade activities while trade officers should be exempted from other duties enabling them to concentrate on export promotion he suggested.
He said that Pakistani exporters are losing opportunities due to language barriers and suggested that government should take appropriate steps hiring well versed local representatives of Spanish and French languages to facilitate the business community. Under the circumstances PRGMEA suggested that there was a great need of formulation of "Region wise polices" because export hubs of four Provinces were producing different products and regional policies would help the government in ascertain the problems and needs of the business community he said. Ejaz said that government should take stakeholder on board for preparing sector wise polices adding that the consultation with the stakeholders will pave the way for addressing problems of the business community.
Underscoring the need of setting up "Business Promotional Board at Sialkot for finding out the ways and means for growth of different industrial sectors including sports goods, surgical instruments, hand made badges, leather garments, musical instruments, gloves and sports wears sectors of Sialkot he said.
The establishment of business promotional boards will not only help resolving the problems but also supportive in opening of new vista of industrial growth in the area and later same programme should be replicated in other areas of the country after assessing the success of business promotional board of Sialkot he added. Ejaz suggested that federal government should concentrate on establishing "Regional Task Forces" for the promotion of different industrial sectors and bringing out the industry out of crises.
These task forces should be established by federal government by taking on board the private sector stakeholders of the respective industries he said.
Ejaz further stated that exporters are direly needed an actionable market intelligence, statistical analysis and competitors strategy from trade officers at this juncture to the exporters. Trade officers he said should concentrate on selecting the best location for Pakistani pavilion and should negotiate with event organisers in the beginning of calendar year. Central Chairman Pakistan PRGMEA further stated that we are making adequate efforts for boosting exports of garments to 1 billion dollars by 2020 adding that PRGMEA was making hectic efforts for achieving the target.