FROM MENAHILL RASHID
FAISALABAD: Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have stressed the need for diversification for sustained Pakistani exports during the fifth review of Pakistan Trade Policy (PTP).
Mr. Atif Munir Sheikh President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) has welcomed this recommendation and said that the business community of Faisalabad was already cognizant of this need and in this connection FCCI has recently organized a three-day Pakistan Economic Conference (PEC). “The ultimate objective of this conference was to convince businessmen to explore new opportunities in other emerging sectors instead of focusing only on textile”, he said and added that as a result of this conference many potential sectors were identified including IT, plastic and poultry etc. He particularly mentioned the IT sector and said that it has recorded 47% growth and young start-ups could not only earn respectable livelihood for themselves but also fetch precious foreign exchange for the country. He said that FCCI is now contemplating to organize one day sector specific conferences after the successful PEC and in this connection the main focus would be laid on IT. He said that entry in to this proposed conference would be totally free so that talented youth could harness their practical skills and play their proactive role in the global markets. He said that this conference would also be designed according to the international standards and highly qualified motivational speakers would be invited to interact with the participants. He said that side-line meetings would also be arranged so that young start-ups could discuss their individual issues with the experts of the relevant fields.
