Chief Coordinator Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) Ijaz A Khokhar has urged the government to constitute a Special Task Force for conducting a detailed study and ascertaining the basic needs Sialkot-based industrial sector. "Future policies should be prepared in the light of that study of special task force," Ijaz said, talking to reporters on Sunday.
He further said that the study of the task force would be helpful in attracting foreign and local investment value-addition sectors and generate large-scale employment for skilled and semi-skilled workforce. After its success, this module should be replicated across the country, he suggested.
Khokhar said that Sialkot is totally export-oriented city and hub of cottage industry of the country with its unique export culture. Experience of private sector of Sialkot should be replicated in the country for accelerating the economic growth, he said.
"Export and manufacturing activities in this export hub were at its lowest ebb and threat of large-scale unemployment looming over the skies of export-oriented city due to the harsh policies of the government," he noted.
PRGMEA chief coordinator said that raw material would become surplus and wide range unemployment would hit industrial sector adversely. He suggested that under the prevailing uncertainty, government should take steps for reviewing its policies to avoid much-feared large-scale unemployment and for safeguarding exports of the country.
He noted a wide communication gap between the government and the stakeholders because government functionaries had always ignored stakeholders and never bothered to take them on board in preparing and implementing the policies. Due to that, miseries of business community multiplied manifold and exports also went down.