Special attention required for business plan of textile sector

ISLAMABAD - Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali said yarn is one of the most important components of the textile sector and special attention is required while making a business plan to exploit the potency of this sector.
He said this while chairing the 4th meeting of the Steering Committee constituted to oversee the implementation of the National Trade Corridor Strategy Study (NTCSS), a priority initiative of the incumbent Government targeted towards improvement in procedures, services and infrastructure to enhance trade and reduce the cost of doing business.
The NTCCS will assist the Government define, plan, prepare and implement a programme for infrastructure development consistent with the Governments Medium Term Strategic Framework.
The Steering Committee analysed the report of the consultants to identify the problems and key options available to textile and apparel, horticulture and pharmaceutical industries. The report will be helpful to frame the choices that the Government must now take in crafting an aggressive, informed and compelling Business Development Programme for itself.
Analysing the textile and apparel sector the participants agreed that power and energy crises, transport, infrastructure, and access to international market are the main hurdles for domestic investors. Likewise, dying and finishing should be given equal importance for competing with regional competitors like India and Bangladesh.
The Deputy Chairman also stressed on the warehouse facilities for Pakistani businessmen abroad. The provision of display centers close to the international community can boost trade as well. To make the country economically thriving and use its potential optimally, the Government is encouraging public-private partnerships, said the Deputy Chairman.
He emphasised the need of improving the infrastructure to facilitate the farmers. Since Pakistan has an agro-based economy, there is huge potential in the agriculture sector including horticulture and floriculture. Along with the use of new technology and fertilisers to increase the yield, new and large cold storages with proper temperature control system are also. The horticulture sector also has vast local expertise, which should be introduced to the international market, he added.
The Steering Committee reached consensus that the growing pharmaceutical sector has gigantic potential so further research is required to tap the hidden potential of this emerging sector. Deputy Chairman emphasised the need for a business plan to ensure the availability of drugs to consumers at affordable prices.
He further said that Pakistan is a large contributor of manpower to the world, we send labour to the entire world from our vast human resource, to train this manpower according to the international standards, the Government is going to start a pilot project this year. 27 training institutes will start working this year to teach state-of-the-art technology and the latest skills to the youth. Within three years, there would be 127 such schools throughout Pakistan, and will train 250,000 students annually.