The government was actively considering over a proposal for establishing an advanced 'Raw Material Bank' in the country with a sole aim of providing raw material to the surgical manufacturers and exports on fixed rates.
Chairman Punjab Chief Minister's Task Force on Industries Mian Muhammad Riaz disclosed this while talking to the newsmen, here today.
He said that a full-fledged Institute of Surgical Technology costing Rs160.459 million is being established and this institute would play a pivotal role in the provision of surgical nursery to the manufacturers of surgical instruments. The work on this project would be carried out shortly and this institute would impart training to 250 students in various fields of surgical manufacturing and it will be equipped with latest machinery, he added. He claimed that the institute would usher in a new era in the development of surgical industry. The step would not only help in reducing unemployment graph but also supportive in increasing the overall production of surgical units as well as help in increasing the export volume, he added.
He said that surgical industry in Sialkot was enjoying the monopolistic position globally and the surgical instruments are most economical and coupled with unconditional guarantee of the finest quality. He added that on the pressing demands of exporters and manufacturers engaged in surgical industry, the government was considering imposing ban on the export semi-finished and unfinished products for protecting the surgical industry from decline.
Mian Muhammad Riaz called upon the investors especially the overseas Pakistanis that they should focus on investing in stainless steel sector for improving the production standard of Pakistani steel Adding that quality stainless steel had become more imperative because the foreign buyers had become more quality conscious. Despite various hurdles and rapid variation in the prices of raw materials the business community of Sialkot was making hectic efforts in maintaining the quality and standard of the surgical instruments, he added.
He also said the government had focused its special attention on bringing revolutionary changes in industrial sector of the country with the concept of ensuring strong export base. No doubt, Pakistan had become a very attractive hub of foreign investment due to the strong and effective economic policies of the government, he said.
He said the government has adopted a far-reaching approach for bringing out the surgical industry from stagnation and step was being taken for enhancing the export-volume of surgical industry of the country. The surgical industry represents manufacturers and exporters of surgical instruments, dental instruments, veterinary, pedicure and manicure items, tailor scissors, barber scissors, and beauty saloon instruments, he added. Riaz also said on government-to-government level and individual level efforts were being made for acquiring instructors from Germany for imparting latest training to the students in the Institute of Surgical Technology.
On the occasion, he suggested that business community of this export oriented city and hub of cottage industry should formulate a strategy for setting up power generation plant on self-help basis for catering the industrial needs and keep the economic wheel in full motion.