Punjab Minister for Commerce and Investment Dr Sohail Zafar Cheema has asked the textile exporters to apprised the provincial government about their problems so that it could be taken up with the Federal government at appropriate level for their immediate redressal.
Addressing a meeting at Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) here on Friday, he said that economy was in shamble when this government had taken over in 1999. Now the foreign reserves were at comfortable level and still more steps were needed to fully restore the economy.
About cheaper inputs, including electricity, he said the Punjab government was considering a proposal to set up small power generating units in its canals. He asked the exporters to convince their colleagues from other provinces to discourage the trend to politicise the Kalabagh Dam. He said that this project was very important to meet the future energy needs, he added.
The Minister said that Pakistan was producing and exporting best quality textile products, and added that now time had come to introduce Pakistani brands to compete in the world markets.
He also mentioned the example of Chen-One, and said that Mian Muhammad Lateef had started Chen-One from one store just a few years ago and now it had 16 branches world-wide.
He said that he had contacted ARY to collaborate with the mango association to increase the export of Pakistani mango to European markets, and said that such arrangements could also be made to increase textile exports. About education and technical training, he said the Punjab government had taken a lead and was implementing best reforms in education sector.
He said that other provinces and some other countries were also copying our education reforms. Earlier, PTEA Chairman Mian Zahid Aslam, in his welcome address, explained the problems being faced by the exporters. Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) President Muhammad Ayub Sabir, Senior Vice Chairman of PTEA Farhatullah Sheikh also addressed the meeting.