Federal Secretary of Ministry of Textile Zafar Mehmood has said that government has provided subsidy amounting to Rs 30 billion to different industrial sectors for research and development in the country.
Addressing the members of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here on Tuesday he said that government was making strenuous efforts for promotion of the textile sector aimed at enhancing the export volume of the country.
Zafar Mehmood assured the house that government is ready to extend every possible support for setting up Garment City and Research and Development Centre in Sialkot that is the export-oriented city and nucleus of cottage industry of the country.
Federal Secretary of Ministry of Textile stressed upon the business community of Sialkot that they should come forward and provide a suitable piece of land for the establishment of Garment City and Research and Development Centre in Sialkot.
Zafar urged upon the business community engaged with the textile sector that they should focus extra-ordinary attention on quality control and export to cope with international standards more easily.
He foresees that export of garments from Sialkot would be increased to many folds in next five years as compared to other industries functioning in the area. Sialkot would be including in Sewing Machine Operators Training (SMOT) programme in next year for extending facilities to the textile sector, he added.
In his welcome address President Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Dr Khurram Anwar Khawaja demanded the establishment of fabric development centre in Sialkot adding that sports goods is an important sector of Sialkot having a strong presence in the international market.
The sportswear was considering as an offshoot of sports goods sector and traditionally international buyers mostly bought sports goods from Sialkot and sportswear from other countries like China, South Korea, Taiwan, USA and Turkey etc, he said.
Dr Khurram said that foreign buyers were fully satisfied with quality of sports goods from Sialkot forcing the local manufacturers to produce sportswear. The sportswear sector within a short span of time has entered into the international market due to the skilled labour force, import fabric and accessories, entrepreneurial skills of businessmen and responsive government policies, he added.
The SCCI Chief further stated that 10,000 plus strong and skilled workers are directly engaged and number is growing adding that the sector is witnessing growth rate of above 15 percent and export figure have crossed 100 million dollars mark.