960415

Exhibition complex

to be constructed

in Peshawar

IQBAL MIRZA

KARACHI: The Ministry of Commerce has agreed to construct an exhibition complex in Peshawar on the pattern of the exhibition complex in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Karachi. The complex should bee ready by 1997.

This assurance was given by Commerce Secretary Salman Farooqui to Ilyas Bilour, President, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry who broached the subject and requested that a complex be constructed in Peshawar also.

The Commerce Secretary not only immediately agreed to Bilour's suggestion, but also assured him that the Ministry of Commerce will bear the cost of the project.

He also said that the Peshawar complex will be provided with all the modern facilities to attract foreign visitors.

In this connection, FPCCI will suggest the site for the location of the complex.

According to Bilour the setting up of the exhibition complex will further promote tourism in Pakistan. He said that Northern Areas already had attraction for the tourists. More tourists would be attracted with the exhibition of semi-precious and precious stones in the area.

Salman Farooqui, during his stay here, had visited the Site Association of Industry where the formation of separate chamber of industry was suggested to him.

He did not support this idea, but floated his own envisaging formation of a confederation of industry without in any way subverting the position of FPCCI.

The commerce secretary was of the view that superiority of the FPCCI should be visible as the apex body representing united interests of the business community.