Prime Minister's relief package to help reduce cost of doing business: Dastgir

Federal Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan has claimed the Prime Minister Relief Package for exporters will focus on reduce cost of doing business, cutting the power tariff and easing off local taxes to stop decline in exports. He said this in a speech during the opening ceremony of a four-day Pakistan carpet exhibition set up by the Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association at a hotel, which was also attended by newly elected Chairman Khawaja Shakir, Senior Vice Chairman Atiqur Rehman, Exhibition Committee Chairman Akhtar Nazir Khan Cooki, exhibition chief organiser Qamar Zia and former chairman Usman Ghani.
The minister urged the carpet industry to focus on value addition to increase exports. "The trade fairs represent a significant opportunity for exporters to enhance their brand and product visibility and to promote new and existing products. "The government was all along with the carpet industry and would try to facilitate at its maximum to hold exhibitions in the country to create soft image of Pakistan, he added.
He said the government was determined to facilitate hand-knotted carpet industry, resolving issues ranging from FTAs with several countries, product development and research to enhance trade volume for economic stability and growth.
New Chairman Shakir and his senior counterpart, Atiqur Rehman, praised the Commerce Minister for assuring full support Pakistan Carpet Show with a view to promote handmade carpet export. "We should also arrange maximum exhibitions in the world to convince the international buyers to import Pakistani handmade carpets by portraying the soft image of the country," he suggested the minister.