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LCCI calls for plan to increase exports

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Executive Committee Member Mian Anjum Nisar on Saturday urged the government to chalk out a comprehensive plan for utilising all available avenues and organisations, such as the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), to increase exports.

Talking to Business Recorder, he alleged that at present, such organisations, even the chambers, were not working to their full potential.

He said the major deficiency was absence of a data-base which could identify various exportable items, exporters and importers, and other related commercial activities. He said such a data-base could prove to be very helpful.

He also urged the government to activate the people appointed in the Pakistani embassies abroad to promote business.

He alleged that most of them were appointed on political grounds by the past regimes, and they were not playing their role to search new markets for the Pakistani products.

Anjum also proposed that prior to allowing establishment of factories in any field, the concerned departments should have full details as to how much investment was needed in a given area of commercial activity, and how much we could export. Such information could help avoid concentration in the sector.

Anjum, who is also an executive member of the Pakistan Industrial Associations Front (PIAF), stressed the need for developing research and development institutions (R&D) in the country.

He said the new millennium would be the age of information and technology, and "through research and development we could keep our traders and industrialists abreast of latest changes and ways and means to improve their business."

Talking about leather and leather products in particular, he claimed that leather exports during the last financial year were valued at around $500 million, adding that it could be further improved.

He said last year there was a decline in leather exports from Pakistan mainly due to recession in the international market and competition from other countries.

Anjum Nisar also advocated promotion of agriculture and agro-based industry in Pakistan and said that it would help a lot in overcoming our economic problems.

He disclosed that 8.5 million acres of land had become barren throughout Pakistan due to water-logging and salinity while by utilising latest techniques it could be made cultivable.

He said, "If we could exploit our land resources properly, we could become exporters of wheat instead of importers."