Pakistan Hardware Merchant's Association (PHMA) Chairman Basit Alvi said that Sindh governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan had agreed to inaugurate hardware exhibition "Hardlinks" scheduled to be held at Expo Center from December 3 to 5, 2004. Addressing a press conference at a local hotel, he said that was the second consecutive year the exhibition was taking place. The need for such an exhibition arose primarily for a number of reasons.
First, as hardware tools and its allied items were the need of every industry, it had become imperative to introduce the vast variety and range of products now available in Pakistan under one roof to its prospective customers.
He said in all about 80 companies were participating among which there were approximately 20 foreign companies. This year they were expecting a number of foreign delegates to visit the exhibition.
He said the object of holding that exhibition was also to attach foreign investors to invest in Pakistan and establish units for production of hardware items in Pakistan.
He pointed out Pakistan was importing around Rs 30 billion hardware products annually whereas producing very meager quantity of hardware items in Pakistan of poor quality.
Replying to a question , he said hardware items market was much larger than it was projected officially. A very large quantity of hardware tools had been smuggled into Pakistan, he added. Replying another question, he said developing hardware industry in Pakistan not only fulfilled local requirement but also provided opportunities to export them.
He said the participation and development of business at individual and corporate levels would enhance domestic and international investments and expansions. It fostered to aim for joint collaboration between multinational companies and Pakistani entrepreneurs.
As a result of last year's exhibition, some companies indicated their interest to invest in the Pakistan market for which negotiations had begun with interested Pakistani companies, he informed.