Industrial parks to be developed to boost apparel exports

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Industries, Commerce and Investment Shafay Hussain has assured All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) of expediting development of industrial parks in Punjab to boost apparel exports.

He was talking to the APTMA delegation led by Chairman North Kamran Arshad and comprised of Senior Vice Chairman Asad Shafi, Executive M Ali, and Secretary General M Raza Baqir. The minister informed that chief minister Punjab has recently set up a high-powered committee headed by provincial minister for industries to examine and understand the best practices across the world in general and Bangladesh in particular for the establishment and operation of garments cities on the pattern of 'Plug and Play Model'.

He added that such industrial parks will be equipped with the state of art infrastructure to attract foreign and local investors. He said the committee would make recommendations on all aspects of the setting up of Garments Parks either in the existing industrial estates or on new sites. Speaking on the occasion, Chairman APTMA North Kamran Arshad said Patron-in-Chief APTMA Gohar Ejaz had put forward the vision of apparel cities in the province by constructing modern industrial zones dedicated to garment manufacturing. The aim is to attract local and international investors by leveraging competitive advantages like low-cost labour and favourable trade status and to inject the boost of additional $ 12 billion in textile exports, he added. These industrial zones are crucial for overall economic growth, as they stimulate industrial activity, attract investment, and foster economic development, he stressed.

Senior Vice Chairman APTMA Asad Shafi explained that each park will be spread over 2,000 acres with five districts in each park. As many as 400 stitching units of 2 acres each with covered area of 100,000 sq feet will be established in each park. He added that initially fully built up 100 garment factories each with 1,000 stitching machines with investment of $ 2 million each with potential of annual exports of $ 20 million will be installed.

Coating industry courses to be introduced in Tevta’s institutions: minister

A delegation of Pakistan Coating Association (PCA) called on Provincial Minister of Industry and Commerce Chaudhry Shafay Hussain at Tevta Secretariat on Friday.

The productivity of paint industry, import of raw materials and problems of the industry were discussed and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed between Tevta and PCA on this occasion. According to the agreement, there will be mutual cooperation in the preparation of courses and skilled manpower as per the requirement of the industry.

Speaking at the meeting, Chaudhry Shafay Hussain said that the MoU of cooperation with the paint industry is a welcome sign and Tevta can provide skilled manpower to the paint industry. Courses related to the coating industry will be introduced in Tevta's institutions. Shafay Hussain said that a 3-year paint and ink modern course will be started in Tevta's colleges in Lahore. 6-month courses will also be introduced.