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'Development of trained manpower biggest achievement of PSM'

KARACHI: The outgoing chairman of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), Abu Shamim Ariff said here that development of trained and experienced manpower in steel technology was the biggest achievement of the PSM.

Ariff, who held the stewardship of the PSM as an additional charge till December 20, 1999, was addressing a farewell dinner in the honour of him and his spouse on Friday, a statement of the PSM said on Sunday. The dinner was hosted by current Chairman Lt Col Muhammad Afzal Khan (Retd) at Steel Town.

Assuring full support to Pakistan Steel in its streamlining effort by the Ministry of Industries and Production, Abu Shamim Ariff said the steel unit was a national asset and should be viewed as such.

He said the two challenges before him as the chief of the corporation were to improve its badly damaged image and to avert its closure on account of shortage of raw material faced due to foreign exchange constraint in the backdrop of nuclear test by Pakistan.

Ariff expressed satisfaction that Pak Steel had been pulled out of troubled waters, restored on its rails and was improving its image.

He also thanked the employees and spoke of cherishing the memory of association with them.

In his address of welcome earlier, Pakistan Steel Chairman Lt. Col Afzal Khan (Retd) paid tributes to the services of the outgoing chairman. He said many problems of Pak Steel had been solved during Ariff's chairmanship.

Pursuing the traditions of his predecessor he said, his efforts were focussed on developing a corporate culture and improving the corporation's image through efficiency and transparency.

The dinner was also attended by directors and senior officers of the PSM and their spouses. A plaque of Pakistan Steel, besides souvenirs and gifts, were also presented to Ariff and Mrs Abu Shamim Ariff. APP