Federal Minister for Housing and Works Syed Safwanullah on Friday stressed the need for community-based participatory efforts for the economic empowerment of oppressed classes of society.
He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of three-day assembly on "Good Governance and Empowerment of People" organised by "Sungi Development Foundation" here.
He underlined the importance of participation of small-scale industry in the economic mainstream of the country and urged to establish linkages between small and large-scale industries.
He asked the community people to encourage small-scale industries to empower manufacturers of handicrafts and hand made fabrics.
He said that government was framing policies for marketing of the products manufactured in these small-scale industrial units to boost country's economy.
Safwanullah said that by effective marketing of the products being produced in these small-scale industries, hefty foreign exchange could be earned.
"By encouraging these industrial units, we can grab maximum benefits of available resources," the minister told participants of the assembly.
By encouraging the people having potential to run these industrial units, Safwan said, the brain drain could be stopped to bring the country on the track of rapid economic growth.
He also urged to minimise role of middleman in the marketing of these products to help small industries in raising their standard.
The people from various spheres of life including journalist, lawyers, representatives of community-based organisations and civil society activists attended the assembly.