Chairman National Commission for Government Reforms (NCR) Dr Ishrat Hussain has underscored the need of bringing innovation and diversification of products for competing the global market more easily and ensure easy access in the market.
Addressing the members of Surgical Instruments Manufacturers Association (SIMA) and members of Gloves and Sports goods Association here on Thursday, he said the innovation and diversification of products had become more imperative at this juncture because global trends were changing rapidly and in order stay in global market the business community of Pakistan should concentrate on introducing new products in the international market.
He called upon the business community that they should focus on "Research and Development" for bringing technology upgradation because the industrial technologies were changing sharply in the world.
The business community of Sialkot should establish a fund on self-help basis for initiating the research and development programme in this export-oriented city and nucleus of cottage industry of the country he added.
Dr Ishrat Hussain was of the opinion that efficiency Central Board of Revenue (CBR) had been increased to many folds as a result of which the ratio of tax collection had been increased considerably.
The government was making adequate efforts to facilitate the business community aimed at enabling the business tycoons to work in pressure-free business environment, he said. The Chairman National Commission for Reforms stressed upon the business community of Sialkot that they should come forward and play their instrumental role in increasing the export volume to many folds adding that present era is an epoch of a strong economy.
Dr Ishrat Hussain said that the business community of Sialkot had played a tremendous role in changing the shape of the city under city package. The construction of an international airport on self-help basis as a result of which Sialkot had become a "Roll Model" for other cities of the country.
In order to protect the exports of the country the business community should contemplate on research and development, marketing as well as on fulfilling the corporate social responsibilities for the larger national interest he added.
He said the aim of visit to Sialkot was to discuss various concerns and government department, which were hindering the exports and creating problems for the business community. He urged upon the business community of Sialkot that they should submit their proposals and suggestions for bringing radical changes in the functioning of government departments.
In his address of welcome Chairman SIMA Aamir Riaz Bhinder said that business community was making strenuous efforts for making Sialkot a billion dollar city of Pakistan. The issue of child labour is haunting the surgical industry for the past few years and it's like a hanging sword on the heads of local business community engaged with surgical industry he added.
The SIMA Chairman said that Association till now had paid $168,750 to ILO for the first and second phase of elimination of child labour from the industry with financial support of the Commerce Ministry and contribution from the industry. Due to very limited income and restricted resources the industry was facing problems in payment of final instalment of $60,750 to be paid by December 31, 2006 and SIMA could not generate such a huge amount on its behalf and had apply for an extension in the contract up to March 31, 2007, he pointed out.