A delegation of APTMA calls on CM Punjab

Lahore: A delegation of industrialists associated with textile sector led by Chairman All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) S.M Tanvir met Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, here today.

Federal Minister for Textile Industry Abbas Khan Afridi, Member National Assembly Pervaiz Malik, Provincial Minister for Industry Chaudhary Muhammad Shafique, Advisor on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique, Member Provincial Assembly Dr. Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Advisor Dr. Ijaz Nabi, concerned federal secretaries and senior officials of Punjab government were also present on the occasion.

Chairman APTMA informed the Chief Minister about the problems of textile sector and the five years programme for the development of textile industry in the wake of granting of GSP Plus status to Pakistan.

The Chief Minister while talking to the delegation said that an agreement has been signed with the Chinese company for the establishment of Quaid-e-Azam Apparel Park. He said that all modern facilities would be available to the textile and garments industry under one roof with the setting up of state-of-the-art Quaid-e-Azam Apparel Park which would strengthen textile sector and increase national exports.

He said that government is determined to resolve energy crisis as early as possible as it is also essential for the development of industrial sector. He said that industrialists and investors would also have to play their role for resolving energy problem.

The Chief Minister said that there is a need to strengthen Cotton Research Institute for increasing cotton production and APTMA should present practicable proposals for this purpose. He said that textile sector is very important and its problems would be resolved on priority basis.

Federal Minister for Textile said that government is striving to resolve the problems of textile sector and all issues including energy problem would be resolved on priority basis.

Chairman APTMA S.M Tanvir commended the efforts of Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif in the granting of GSP Plus status to Pakistan. He said that government is making sincere efforts to counter the problem of shortage of electricity. He thanked the Chief Minister for fulfilling the promise of supply of gas to industries in the province during winter. He said that textile exports reach the figure of 26 billion dollars during next five years.