Sialkot To Have Readymade Technical Training Institute: PRGMEA
Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) has underscored the need of formulation of sector wise policies with the consultation of stakeholders for bringing boom in export of the country, said Chief Co-ordinator Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) Ijaz A Khokhar.
In an interview with Business Recorder on Sunday, he said the formulation of sector wise policies would not only help in increasing exports but also supportive in minimising the problems confronted by the business community.
Ijaz said the government should take drastic steps for enhancing exports and address the problems of industrial sector on top priority basis for larger national interests. Ijaz urged upon the government that to prepare long and short term polices for edging out the possibilities of further decline in exports which is on down trend. Special focus should be accorded on short term polices for overcoming the decline in exports, he suggested. Ijaz suggested that government should concentrate on capturing EU market and adequate efforts should be to develop Pakistani lobbies for paving the way for Pakistani products in EU (European Market).
Despite of certain hurdles, the business community engaged with Readymade garments was making strenuous efforts for enhancing the export for the larger national interests, he said. Ijaz said that due to non-availability of latest fabric the garment sector currently have a limited product line for export market adding that foreign buyers were demanding new garments on G3, G4 and technical fabric raw material which are not available and produced by Pakistani weavers so far. There was a dire need of formulating a aggressive marketing plan at earliest possible for garment export to gain the maximum benefits of GSP status, he said.
Our Research and Development (R&D) is very weak due to the high cost of utility and allied factors and under the circumstances the government should announce special R&D support fund for innovation of new product and up-gradation of workplaces and if government announces special package of concessions export could be enhanced by US 7 billion dollars, he added.
Sialkot has become fourth largest producer of readymade garments and sportswear, particularly in Martial Arts Uniforms, he added.
Ijaz said that necessary arrangements are being finalised for setting up state of the art Pakistan Readymade Technical Training Institute costing over Rs 125 million in Sialkot. The proposed institute will be established on suitable place and development work on the project will soon be undertaken. Ijaz disclosed that federal government had released Rs 50 million while remaining funds would released shortly and the institute will be affiliated with Japan.
Pakistan Readymade Technical Training Institute after regular functioning will help the exporters engaged with readymade garments industry to induct trained workforce to improve the overall productivity and quality of the product, he said.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.