Swedish delegate and VC PIFD visits PBIT

Lahore: The President and Rector of Konstfack University College of Arts, Crafts and Design, Sweden Maria Lantz, along with the Vice Chancellor, Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design Prof Hina Tayyaba visited Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT) and held talks with the Chief Executive Officer PBIT, Javed Akbar and senior members of the PBIT as well as MD Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC), Farhan Aziz Khawaja.

CEO PBIT, Javed Akbar appraised the delegation of the opportunities present in Punjab to collaborate with one of the top design and craft institutes of the West and build upon transfer of skill and technology to the crafts and design artisans of Punjab as well as the positive investment climate in the province. MD PSIC informed the delegation that Punjab Small Industries Corporation were out reaching to 9000 artisans through 8 development centers and had a support mechanism for helping 3000 females in rural communities and homemade artisans across the province of Punjab.

The visiting Swedish delegate said that Punjab should focus more on producing high quality handicrafts and fashion items in order to compete globally. The importance of transfer of skills between the two regions was also highlighted in the meeting so it could create opportunities for students and designers from both countries. The President of Konstfack university thanked PBIT for inviting and reiterated that she would do best to get her university educate more and more teachers as well as artisans from Punjab in order to make them competitive globally. CEO PBIT, Javed Akbar also emphasized the fact that once collaboration starts with PSIC, the Swedish institute Konstfack and PIFD can look to get international funding as Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region is under focus for investment opportunities in this sector.