Housing exhibition: ABAD’s expo hailed

Major allied industries brought under one roof for display of products.

KARACHI:

The Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (ABAD) – country’s representative organisation of over 700 builders and developers – has written a new chapter in the country’s history with the launch of a three-day international exhibition.

The ABAD exhibition, first of its kind, taking place at Karachi Expo Centre has brought all major allied industries under one roof.



All six halls of the Expo Centre are occupied with over 200 stalls. This underlines the builders’ confidence, said ABAD Senior Vice Chairman Salim Kassim Patel.

Exhibitors, associated with tiles, sanitary fittings, hardware, paints and pipe businesses are confident that they would generate business from this expo. According to them, the exhibition has attracted all the leading builders and developers who are their prospective target buyers. It is easier for them now to pitch their products.

“I have attended many such exhibitions in the past and my instincts tell me this exhibition is going to surpass all the expectations of exhibitors,” Master PPRC Pipes & Fittings Zonal Manager Marketing (Sindh Zone) Fahad Bin Sabir told The Express Tribune.

Dozens of leading builders launching their products in this exhibition have also increased the exhibitors’ confidence. Sonex Tiles & Ceramics Industries Project Manager Rafaqat Ali commented that Karachi is the hub of all big construction projects like big buildings. “We are here to pitch our products and boost our market standing in this part of the country,” said Ali.

“Sonex is a leading player in Punjab and enjoys a big share in the sanitary and hardware industry. Now the company wants to increase its share in Karachi’s ceramic and sanitary industry,” he said.



Jotun Commercial General Manager Syed Ather commenting on the growth of paint industry said, “Construction and paint business goes together. The current growth of paint sector is 4 to 5%, but it could increase significantly if construction industry picks up in coming years.”

He said there is a huge potential in the paint industry in Pakistan. In developed countries, per capita paint consumption is 2 to 4 litres per person, while here it is mere 0.5 to 0.55 litre. Even if the country’s consumption rises to 0.6 or 0.7 litre per person, it will bring remarkable changes in the business.

Speaking on the business opportunities, Pak Arab Manager Sales and Marketing Masroor Akhtar said that his company was expecting good business deals from the exhibition. “We have recently launched a new PVC pipe technology for very large pipes and we are hopeful of getting new orders from this platform.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2014.

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