PM urges industrialists to come up with innovative ideas to boost exports

• PM says Pakistan’s industry has now been transformed.
• Says textile is one of the largest sectors of Pakistan’s economy.
• Says government believes in rule of law and merit.

KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday stressed the country’s exporters to come up with innovative and unique ideas to boost exports which would ultimately help the country earn valuable foreign exchanges.

“Despite various challenges, we have very robust, very futuristic, and extremely hardworking entrepreneurs that have gradually built Pakistan’s export culture,” he said while addressing a ceremony at the Textile Expo here.

He said with genuine government support combined with the entrepreneurs’ extraordinary intellect and hard work, the provision of quality export goods to foreign customers would be ensured.

Welcoming the foreign delegates, the PM said he was happy to learn that over 400 foreign delegates from 60 countries were visiting the country for the expo and showed that Pakistan is a valuable destination for foreign guests, buyers, and traders.

PM Shehbaz also appreciated the industrialists, exporters, and experts who had contributed immensely to promoting Pakistan’s textile and leather exports.

He said Pakistan’s industry had now been transformed and converted to air jet looms, ginning, spinning, and weaving.

Commerce minister, secretary commerce, and Chairman Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Zubair Motiwala, he said had done a commendable job by arranging this expo which would help promote the country’s exports.

The PM said the textile sector constituted 60% of total exports while 40% labour force was absorbed in this sector. “It is no doubt one of the largest sectors of Pakistan’s economy,” he added.

He pointed out that despite financial challenges and other difficulties, the government was committed to providing genuine support to all the export sectors including textile, leather, and sports to help increase the country’s export volume.

He recalled that a few decades ago, Pakistan was ahead of its neighbors in textile exports, however unfortunately it lost the grounds. “But I have no doubt in mind that we can still recover from these setbacks and take hands off the clock back to 1990s and excel in our exports,” he said adding that Naveed Qamar his team, and the finance minister combined could turn the table.

The PM said Qamar had put in place the national compliance cell which was the need of the hour and “we are obviously grateful to the European Union for GSP plus status and again I am aware of the fact that all reviews have been done, and we … respect all international requirements in this behalf whether it is good governance, human rights or any other requirement”.

He maintained the government believed in the rule of law and merit, and come what may, the government would toe the line of constitution and policies.