Punjab Minister for Trade & Industries, Mian Aslam Iqbal on Monday inaugurated the three-day 6th Plastic International Expo being organized by All Pakistan Plastic Manufacturers Association (PPMA) here at the Expo Centre.
The participating companies include; industrial buyers, experts, entrepreneurs, regulators, investors and professional delegates from international and local enterprises and institutions, who seek new opportunities for expanding their business relations and deliberate on collaborative ventures to enrich this important sector of the economy.
Talking to the media, Mian Aslam Iqbal said the PTI government is following a policy of creating conducive atmosphere so that trade and economic activities could be fully boosted in the country. He expressed the satisfaction that the steps taken by the government for creating ease of doing business in the country have proved fruitful and Pakistan's international ranking has been improved as a result.
Mian Aslam Iqbal said that Prime Minister and the Chief Minister Punjab are working hard to introduce holistic reforms for removing hurdles in business sector, he added. The government has presented its stance in the court with regard to the issue of shopping bags and time has been given by the court for finding solution of this problem.
The solution will be brought out in consultation with the stakeholders, he added. He said that packages industry is of vital importance but sufficient steps were not taken in the past to promote it. The incumbent government is working for the promotion of this industry, he added. He said that ruining a system is easy but its revival is difficult and the PTI government is striving to revive the system. Pakistan will be brought in between the ranking of 50 and 60 with regard to ease of doing business, he said.
To a question, he said that contacts exist between Rehbar Committee of opposition and government's negotiations committee and added that solution of problems will be brought out through negotiations.
He said that current account and trade deficit has been reduced due to the efforts of the PTI government and economy is being improved. The country cannot bear agitation, chaos and sit-in and positive message is not given to the international community through sit-ins. It is improper to stage sit-in along with armed gangs. Such sort of behaviour results in defaming the country, he added.
Meanwhile, the minister inspected various stalls and showed keen interest in the items displayed in the said exhibition. Mian Aslam Iqbal congratulated the organizers and hoped that this exhibition will help to boost the plastic manufacturing industry in the country.
Chairman Pak PLAS Syed Nabeel Hashmi said that solution of shopping bags will be solved in collaboration with the government. The organizer claimed that the exhibition has received an overwhelming response from more than 100 local and international exhibitors, while it is expected to attract over 100,000 visitors in three days.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019