Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has said the government was taking all the necessary measures to make Pakistani industry and trade sectors competitive in the wake of the enforcement of WTO regime next year.
Addressing the members of the All Pakistan Cloth Exporters Association (Apcea) here on Sunday, he said that ministries of commerce and industries were already working out plans in this regard.
The prime minister was appreciative of the potential, expertise and commitments of the textile exporters, saying they were earning precious foreign exchange to make Pakistan economically stronger.
Jamali said Faisalabad is not the Manchester of Pakistan, adding it has recognised itself as the mainstay of the national economy.
He hoped that Faisalabad would soon emerge as the textile capital of the world only because of the hard work and dedication of its industrialists, saying Pakistan has the capabilities to face the challenges especially in connection with social compliance. The prime minister said the government would provide water treatment plant to help local industrialists to carry out cleaner production especially in the field of textile.
Commenting on the demand for separate textile, ministry, he assured them of setting up a division, a task force, an organisation or any other set-up to exclusively deal with textile and exports.
He also asked Apcea Chairman Ahmad Kamal to send a team of two or three competent businessmen to Islamabad to submit suggestions for the upcoming federal budget, saying they should meet Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz to provide necessary input for the budget formulation.
He appreciated the industrialist community of Faisalabad for taking care of projects of economic significance like Dryport and setting up of a number of medicare centers.
He also thanked local philanthropists for their contribution towards mass marriages and micro-finance loan project, but they have to contribute more towards the social development in a big way.
Ahmad Kamal, in his address of welcome, introduced his association, saying few grey cloth exporters formed it in mid-90s.
However, now it had emerged as one of the leading associations of exporting fabrics and made-ups from Pakistan.
He also explained the social contributions of Apcea and said that its members have played a major role in the development of Dry Port, International Air Port and Haj Camp in addition to its contributions towards health, education, and law & order.
"They have also fulfilled their commitments towards the mass marriage and launching of micro-credit loan project in Pakistan," the Apcea chief added.
Ahmad Kamal said that exporters have made huge investment in plant and machinery to upgrade the quality of their products, but they are lagging behind in the availability of trained professionals.
He said that the government colleges and universities should educate and train youth in the textile-related subjects.
He requested the prime minister to instruct establishment of water treatment plants at two major industrial locations in this textile city.
The Apces chief also reiterated its demand for separate textile ministry, saying an exporter well-versed with the intricacies of the textile sector should be appointed to head it.
He also demanded necessary funds from the federal government to complete the pending drainage and water supply projects.
Earlier, Mir Zafaullah Khan Jamali along with Punjab Governor Lieutenant General Khalid Maqbool (retd) and Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi also visited the display centre in which exportable textile products were displayed.
Later, Mian Mohammad Arshad presented a memento of Apcea to Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, while Chenab Group of Industries Chief Executive Mian Mohammad Latif also presented a souvenir to Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Perviz Elahi.