Trade exhibitions play vital role in economic activities

Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab on Food and Environment, Mansha Ullah Butt has said that the business exhibitions play a vital role in promoting economic activities in any country and creating a soft image. He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of 8th International Plastic Printing and Packaging Industry and International Food Equipment and Technology (3P) Exhibition at Expo Centre Lahore.
The 3P expo was jointly organised by the FAKT Exhibition Private Limited and Pakistan Plastic Manufacturers Association (PPMA). The exhibition will continue till Monday (March 19). Mansha congratulated the exhibitors and organisers for bringing intentional exhibitors from India, China, Italy, Germany, Taiwan, Japan and other European countries.
He said that Punjab government was very much supportive to facilitate businessmen and provide an environment conducive to businesses. He welcomed the international exhibitors on their visit to Pakistan, especially Punjab to display their products and technology.
More than 200 companies from around 50 different countries of the world will be displaying their machinery and packaging material at the Lahore Expo Centre for three days show. Talking to the reporters, Chairman, PPMA, Shakeel Ahmed said that Pakistan has great potential to export finished plastic goods to the international markets provided having supportive government policies.
He said Pakistani plastic sector was facing numerous problems from smuggled plastic raw material from Iran, which disturbed the people doing legal businesses in Pakistan. He said PPMA raised its voice at different forums but of no avail. The Chairman PPMA, said till 1990 Pakistani Plastic industry was at par with its Indian counterparts, however, after favourable government policies by the Indian government pushed their industry far ahead of Pakistan. On the other hand, Pakistani industry has been caught in various problems, which are never resolved by any concerned authority.
He demanded the government to establish Hydro Cracking Plant, which will ensure the cheapest raw material for Pakistani plastic industry. He said for the last two decades the government was working on Hydro Cracking Plant but no breakthrough was occurred. CEO, FAKT Exhibitions, Salman Khan Tanoli said that 3P expo was 8th annual exhibition without government support.
He demanded the government to give the exhibitions sector status of industry and patronise it. He said exhibitions create soft image of Pakistan globally as number of intentional exhibitors were participating in this expo will bring the more foreign visitors to Pakistan when they will return back to their native countries.