While interacting with an APTMA delegation led by Kamran Arshad, Chairman-North Zone; Shafay Hussain, Punjab Minister for Industries, Commerce and Investment assured All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) of expediting development of industrial parks in Punjab to boost apparel exports.
The delegation also included Asad Shafi, Senior Vice Chairman; M Ali, Executive and M Raza Baqir, Secretary General. The minister informed that the Punjab chief minister 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-the-art infrastructure to attract foreign and local investors. 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. Arshad applauded Gohar Ejaz, Patron-in-Chief, APTMA for proposing the vision of apparel cities in the province by constructing modern industrial zones dedicated to garment manufacturing.
These cities will attract local and international investors by leveraging competitive advantages like low-cost labor and favorable trade status, and boost textile exports by $12 billion, he added. These industrial zones are crucial for overall economic growth, as they stimulate industrial activity, attract investment, and foster economic development, he emphasised.
Shafi explained, each of these parks will be spread over 2,000 acre with five districts each. Around 400 stitching units of 2 acre each with a covered area of 100,000 sq ft will be established in each park. The parks will be built with an investment of $2 million each and house fully built up 100 garment factories with 1,000 stitching machines.
A delegation of Pakistan Coating Association (PCA) called on Chaudhry Shafay Hussain, Provincial Minister of Industry and Commerce at Tevta Secretariat to discuss the productivity of paint industry, import of raw materials and problems of the industry. On this occasion, an MoU was signed between Tevta and PCA to facilitate mutual cooperation in the preparation of courses and skilled manpower as per the requirement of the industry.
Hussain termed the MoU of cooperation with the paint industry as a welcome sign and assured that Tevta can provide skilled manpower to the paint industry. Courses related to the coating industry will be introduced in Tevta's institutions. A 3-year paint and ink modern course will be started in Tevta's colleges in Lahore while 6-month courses will also be introduced, Hussain added.
