Made in Pakistan Expo commences in Mumbai

Fair showcasing finest goods from textiles, other sectors.

KARACHI: The Made in Pakistan Expo 2012, displaying Pakistan’s finest textiles, marble, herbs and medicines, plastics and variety of dry fruits products, began on Friday in Mumbai.

About 100 stalls have been put up by 58 Pakistani companies participating in the six-day fair. Nearly 200 workers are also in attendance. Pakistan’s topmost brands and fashion designers are showcasing their finest textiles and garment collections in the exhibition. Popular labels and boutiques like Gul Ahmed, Portia Fabrics, Bareeze, MauSummery, Signatures by Five Star, Nisha Summer Lines and Al Karam are among the firms presenting their creations at the Expo.

The first-of-its-kind trade fair also witnessed protests by Shiv Sena activists outside the World Trade Centre complex, which is serving as the venue for the expo. The activists allegedly shouted slogans and demanded that the exhibition be stopped.

The exhibition has been organised jointly by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

A Pakistani trade delegation led by FPCCI President Haji Fazal Sherani and comprising leading textile houses and prominent businesspersons from various other industrial sectors are exhibiting their products at the six-day-long fair, a message received here said.

The exhibition is scheduled to close on September 5.

FPCCI believes the exhibition will allow traders to explore opportunities and improve bilateral trade relations between the two countries.

After Mumbai, FPCCI is planning to organise similar exhibitions in Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore and New Delhi.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2012.