Minister for Industries and Production Liaquat Ali Jatoi has approved the corporatisation of Expert Advisory Cell (EAC) and National Productivity Organisation (NPO) with a view to making them more independent and effective organisations to benefit the industrial sector.
The minister was presiding over 30th meeting of the board of governors of Expert Advisory Cell (EAC) of the Ministry of Production and Industries here on Thursday.
He directed them that the formal procedures for corporatisation of both the organisations should be initiated and the private sector should be given majority in the board of directors of both the organisations. He also directed EAC to conduct a survey of the industrial sector on the impact of WTO scenario on it after December 2004.
He said that the awareness campaign on WTO should be completed as per schedule. The minister said that both the organisations should work for better results to provide technical know-how to the industrial sector and training to the people to make them more effective.
The minister was told the National Industrial Policy 2004 will be finalised in August and submitted to the approval of the competent authority.
The Human Resources Development Policy 2004 and formulation of long-term strategy for development of iron and steel industry of Pakistan under the name of Steel Vision 2015 is also under preparation and would be completed soon.
It was also informed by EAC chief Zahid Aziz that the EAC has published 13 publications and held eight seminars about investment during last fiscal and is planning to hold seminars/workshops on potential of electronic industry, directory of specialised equipment, digest of industrial sectors and prospects of chemical industry.
Sixteen seminars on quality and environment management, engineering industries on ISO-9001, WTO industries related matters, WTO experts group meetings and training on WTO agreements will be held during the current fiscal in all the four provinces.
The board also appreciated the role of EAC and NPO in improving awareness of the entire industrial sector about WTO matters and various trade-related issues.
The meeting was also informed that the response of Business Support Centres working to facilitate the investors was encouraging and 252 inquiries were handled during last year, 96 overseas Pakistanis and 40 foreigners were facilitated.
Business investors from 33 countries have been supported by the centres and 14 feasibilities have been prepared by the centres.
The board also approved the budget of EAC and the NPO for the current fiscal 2004-05.