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Export finance scheme

to help small exporters

SIALKOT: The Export Finance Guarantee (EFG) scheme has been introduced to provide all the trade-related facilities to small exporters.

This was stated by Export Promotion Bureau Chairman Tariq Ikram while talking to exporters at Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here on Monday.

The EPB chairman said that the present government was taking keen interest to boost the exports of the country and small exporters were not being negated, to provide with all the trade-related facilities. For the purpose, he said that EPB was going to establish Display Centres in the countries where Pakistani Banks were working to capture the international markets.

Chairman said that EPB had asked to the concerned authorities for collecting complete bio-data of Pakistani working women for a comprehensive directory to be published by the EPB.

Chairman disclosed that export houses would soon be established to encourage women in trade and exports sectors. He said that Women Banks were also being involved by the ministry of commerce in this revolutionary project, chairman added.

About One Window operation, he said that arrangements are being made for the introduction of the new system to facilitate the business community of the country, he said.

Tariq Ikram called upon the business community of Sialkot to focus its attention on the improvement of quality of the products for competing the world market.

He assured the members of the chamber that adequate efforts are being made for further accelerating the pace of settlement of duty draw back claims adding that all pending cases pertaining to duty draw back would be cleared in near future.

On the pressing demand of the business community, the minister announced that government will provide Rs 3,000,000 to Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SSCI) for undertaking monitoring in soccer ball industry of Sialkot. The government is committed to eliminate child labour from the industrial sector for making it child labour free on permanent basis, he said.

The minister said that government will encourage all efforts for purging the industrial sector from child labour.

Tariq Ikram said the policies adopted by the present government would help in revival of the economy by giving big boost to the exports which would ultimately provide economic support to common man.

Earlier, Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President Khawar Anwar Khawaja presented the address of welcome and highlighted various problems being faced by the local business community. He demanded that airport at Sialkot should be developed on top priority basis for larger interests of the business community of Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat and many other adjoining areas.

Khawar Khawaja called upon the government to establish an effluent treatment plant at Sialkot for averting the threats of pollution.

As many as 234 tanneries of different capacities are functioning in and close to Sialkot, and are a constant source of pollution, posing serious threats to human, wild and marine life.ÑPPI/APP