Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President Dr Nouman Idris Butt has said that stone laying ceremony of Sialkot Expo Centre will be held on Monday.
Talking to Business Recorder here on Friday, Dr Nouman said that Federal Commerce Minister Humayun Khan would perform stone-laying ceremony of the expo centre on 8 May.
Highlighting main features of the proposed expo centre, he said it would be an eight-storey building, consisting of four display centres, two halls, office box, auditorium, restaurant and living rooms for the foreign visitors.
The SCCI President revealed that the expo centre would be accomplished at a cost of Rs 150 million, partially funded by the SCCI members.
The concept of the construction of the expo centre, which would be constructed adjacent to SCCI building, was to display locally manufactured products under a single roof and to organise national and international exhibitions, including single country exhibition, he added.
Dr Nouman disclosed that the industrial sector of Sialkot was contributing handsome foreign exchange, amounting to 800 million dollars annually that was an exceptional feat, considering the small size and population of the city.
He pointed out that the bank loan and tax default rate in Sialkot was practically zero-rated that was a clear proof of the prudence and responsible attitude of the local business community of the area.
Sialkot City Package Programme was started by the SCCI in collaboration with other trade bodies, and under this programme, the exporters were voluntarily contributing 0.25 percent against their export invoices to change the face of the city by constructing roads and remodelling the sewerage system, he disclosed.