Federal Minister for Textile Industry, Chaudhry Mushtaq Ali Cheema, has announced the upgradation and modernisation of the depleted weaving sector with state-of-the-art, air-jet and Sulzer looms and latest technological equipment to catapult the textile sector into the new global trade scenario in 2005.
Addressing the various big receptions, the minister said that the powerlooms sector also needed utmost attention of the government for replacement of the old and odd looms with that of shuttle-less automatic looms.
He said that at present over 250,000 powerlooms are operating in the unorganised sector in the country out of which 125,000 are installed in Faisalabad city alone. He said that the textile ministry would try its optimum best to arrange the soft term loans by banks and financial institutions for the modernisation of the powerlooms.
Commenting over the developmental activities in Faisalabad, the minister said that he is in constant touch with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Chief Minister Punjab, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, to get special development package for Faisalabad.
He said that with the help of this monetary support, the roads and streets of the Faisalabad city would be developed and adequate water supply and sewerage system be provided.
He added that this special grant will be in addition to the regular grant being provided to the Wasa by the government.
About the industrial development in Faisalabad, the minister said that the federal government has already sanctioned the project of "Garment City" for Faisalabad while the Punjab Government has also approved the plan for the establishment of an industrial estate near Faisalabad, right from Sahianwala interchange to Sargodha road where this industrial estate will be established in 3,325 acres of land in the near future.
Mushtaq Ali Cheema said that after the accomplishment of this huge project, the jobs to lacs of unemployed persons will be provided. The industrial units of various nature and categories will be established in this industrial estate, he added.
Continuing, he said that his ministry would try to boost the textile exports by giving lucrative incentives to the exporters and cheaper availability of the inputs to make the exports most competitive.
He said that that the government would also try to help reduce the cost of production by affording lucrative incentives to the exporters and new investors.
The minister exhorted the people to maintain unity in their ranks to frustrate the designs of those elements who are out and out to hamper the solidarity of the country by indulging in negative activities.
He said that under dynamic leadership of Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz, an elected democratic government has come into existence which is working for the welfare of the people.
He said that government is fully committed to provide all possible amenities to the people, remaining within limited resources. He especially called upon the PML-(Q) workers to come forward and devotedly work for the uplift and welfare of the citizens.
Earlier, the Textile Minister was accorded a rousing reception by various trade bodies and workers of political and religious parties on his arrival at motor way interchange on Sargodha road where the Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) had set up a reception camp.
Prominent PTEA members and its office bearers, Ahmad Kamal, Chairman, Sheikh Mukhtar Ahmad, former Chairman, Mohammed Zahid Bhatti and Faiq Javed welcomed the minister.
Chairman Faisalabad Dry Port Trust, Shehzad Ali Siddiqi, former senior vice Chairman, Muhammad Saeed Sheikh, Former Senior Vice Chairman Syed Fahim Mehmood Shah and other Trustees of FDPT also received the minister at their reception camp set up near Rasheed Textile industries.
All Pakistan Cotton Powerlooms Association, Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (North Zone), Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association, and Anjuman-e-Tajiran Punjab had also set up their separate reception camps on the route.
Rana Ikhlaq Ahmad, Chairman APCPA, Khuwaja Mohammed Amjad Chairman and Chaudhry Mohammed Aslam, former Chairman PHMA (NZ) received the minister near Punjab Medical College and garlanded with flowers.