Undeterred, ABAD expo all set to go

Officials says investors taking interest in Pakistan’s construction sector.

KARACHI:

The Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (ABAD) has said that the recent terrorist attacks in Karachi and Peshawar have failed to discourage local and foreign exhibitors coming to participate in the upcoming ABAD International Expo 2014.

“The enthusiasm has not faded away, as people want to display their products to grab the market share in the expanding construction industry of Pakistan,” ABAD Senior Vice Chairman Salim Patel said.

ABAD Expo 2014 is scheduled to be held from August 12-14 at the Karachi Expo Centre.

With relative political stability, local and now foreign investors are taking interest in the construction sector of Pakistan. To make the most of this opportunity, ABAD is trying to provide a platform to both local and foreign companies to gather under one roof and display their products, added Patel

Exhibitors have already confirmed their participation, and range from different industries like ceramic tiles, steel, sanitary and hardware, cement and security equipment.

To increase participation of foreign companies, two weeks ago ABAD had sent a delegation to Dubai to meet the heads of leading building and construction companies in UAE and invited them to participate in the event.

Last month ABAD representatives said that the country will soon receive an investment of about $100 million in its construction sector. They said that only Karachi is going to receive huge investments as about 100 housing projects are going to be launched in the city in the next four months.

Meanwhile, ABAD Chairperson Haris Ali Mithani highlighted the problems faced by the housing industry.

“The cost of construction raw material is very cheap in Pakistan, yet development takes a back seat,” said Mithani, while stressing the need for rehabilitation of illegal slums.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2014.

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