All-out efforts being made to help resolve importers' issues: Dawood

Prime Minister's Adviser for Commerce, Textile, Industry & Production and Investment Razak Dawood Saturday said the people are in a fix regarding current scenario but the situation is likely to improve within a week or two. The Advisor was talking to the media during his visit of three-day Gujranwala Expo being held here at the International Expo Centre.
President Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry Muhammad Asim Anees, Vice President Mustafa Shakeel and other office bearers were also present on the occasion. As many as 85 companies from Gujranwala have set up their stalls and displayed different products including engineering, home appliances, plastic goods etc at the exhibition that would continue till June 30, 2019.
Razak Dawood said that Gujranwala is playing an important role in the development of engineering sector and producing quality goods at cheaper rates. He said the government has fulfilled its responsibility of providing access to new markets for the development of industry. We have also to make the local industry more competitive, he added.
The Advisor said that the government is trying to provide maximum facilities to the industries established in Gujranwala, he added. He said the government is trying to resolve the importers problems. The government also wants to develop skilled workforce in Gujranwala and taking steps in this regard, he added. To a question, he said that China had offered Pakistan exports worth US $1 billion.
Earlier, President Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Almas Hyder urged the industrialists to organize similar exhibition in Dubai that would help capture markets also in African countries. He said that businessmen would start paying taxes provided the government improves refund system. The government has about one and half month to bring improvement in the refund system.
If it fails to introduce friendly system of refunds, all the chambers would be sitting in Islamabad, he warned. He also stressed upon the Gujranwala based industries to enhancing their capacity which are playing vital role in earning foreign exchange. The engineering sector is more important than the textile sector, he said, adding that the businessmen should focus on strengthening the engineering industry.