LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Monday urged the government to expedite efforts for establishment of Cottage City on the pattern of industrial estates.
In a meeting related to Cottage Industry at LCCI, the LCCI Vice President Syed Mahmood Ghaznavi said, "Establishment of Cottage City is need of the hour".
He said the government can overcome poverty and unemployment as well as resolve other economic challenges by focusing simply the cottage industry.
He said, the developed world pays special attention towards Cottage Industry but unfortunately, this vital sector has been ignored in Pakistan, asserting that hand-made carpets, embroidery work, brass wares and traditional bangles are highly in demanded in international markets.
Ghaznavi said that unlike large scale industry, the cottage industry can be promoted with a very low investment and resources in urban and rural areas of the country. The cottage industry will provide ample jobs to the local people that will help stop urbanization due to migration from rural areas as well as resolve the problems of education, transport and health facilities in the cities, he maintained.
The LCCI VP said the LCCI would continue its efforts to resolve the cottage industry's problems in the best interest of national economic development.
Speaking on the occasion, LCCI Senior Vice President Mian Nauman Kabir termed the cottage industry as an important component of the economic development and social uplift, asserting that it can help bring revolution in the industrial sector. He also called for provision of maximum facilities to the cottage industry.
The LCCI Standing Committee on Cottage Industry, Convener, Ghulam Sarwar Malik urged the government to allocate a piece of 150 acres of land for setting up of Cottage City to enable the people attached to this sector to play a more effective role in the country's economic development.
Malik suggested that the industry with 25 workers and an annual turnover of Rs 7.5 million should be declared as cottage industry.
He also urged the government to chalk out a viable plan in consultation with Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry so as to increase the Cottage Industry's share in the exports of the country.
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