PM seeks unique export ideas

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday pressed exporters to come up with innovative and unique ideas to boost exports, which would help Pakistan earn foreign exchange. “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.

The premier 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 had arrived to attend the exhibition, which showed that Pakistan was a valuable destination for foreign guests, buyers, and traders.

Shehbaz appreciated the industrialists, exporters, and experts who had contributed immensely to promoting textile and leather exports. He said Pakistan’s industry had now been transformed and converted to air jet looms, ginning, spinning, and weaving. He praised the commerce minister and secretary commerce, saying they had done a commendable job by arranging the expo, which would help promote Pakistan’s exports. The textile sector contributes 60% to the country’s total exports and absorbs 40% of the labour force. “It is no doubt one of the largest sectors of the economy,” he added.

PM Shehbaz pointed out that despite financial challenges and other difficulties, the government was committed to providing support to all export sectors including textile, leather, and sports. He recalled that a few decades ago, Pakistan was ahead of its neighbours in textile exports, however, unfortunately it lost the momentum. “But we can still recover from these setbacks and take the clock back to the 1990s and excel in exports.” The PM pointed out that Commerce Minister Naveed Qamar had put in place a national compliance cell, which was the need of the hour.

“We are grateful to the European Union for its GSP Plus status and I am aware of the fact that all reviews have been done, and we … respect all international requirements whether it is good governance, human rights or any other requirement.” He stressed that the government believed in the rule of law and merit, and come what may it would toe the line of constitution and policies.