Federal Minister for Industries Liaquat Ali Jatoi has said that the present government is businessmen-friendly, "and that is why our policies are targeted towards industrially, economically and financially self-sufficient and independent Pakistan".
He was speaking at a luncheon meeting of Pakistan Soap Manufacturers Association at a hotel here on Saturday.
In the contemporary world, Jatoi said, "it is essential to be counted among respectful" as well as politically independent nation.
"Our government want to get rid of begging for financial aid and loans from developed countries which lend it with political strings and dictate their terms against our integrity."
He expressed the hope that the business community would "never let us down".
Regarding the problems as highlighted in the address of welcome, the minister assured them that he would direct the relevant officials to consider and solve the genuine grievances on priority basis.
He said he would try to influence other ministries also to look after the genuine interest of their industries. He said he wanted to see the soap industry progressing and contributing more and more towards the country's progress and prosperity.
He noted with delight that Pakistan is making soaps of international standard, and even better than developed countries.
"Being patriotic Pakistanis, we must use our own products and as what Quaid-e-Azam said 'I want the words Made in Pakistan to become a standard in the world'."
He said that issues concerning Customs would also be taken up with CBR and Ministry of Finance.
The minister invited a representative of Soap Manufacturers Association to Islamabad on April 14 to have proper interaction with the stakeholders of economy for solution of their justified problems.
He pointed out that policies of the present government are in continuation of the policies initiated by President Pervez Musharraf which led to an upsurge in the country's foreign exchange reserves to the level of $12.5 billion from earlier $300 million only.
He said that industrial growth in the country has increased by 41.7 percent by July-September last year.
Yakub Karim, Chairman, Pakistan Soap Manufacturers Association, lauded the continuity of the policies of President Pervez Musharraf and said that these policies are now bearing fruit and contributing towards all round prosperity.
He said that soap industry is one of the major and most important industries in Pakistan with 150 units in the organised sector and approximately 500 small or cottage factories in unorganised sector.
Total production in both sectors is approximately 420,000 tons per year.
In this total production, soap is 60 000 tons and washing soap is 300,000 tons while detergent is 60,000 tons.
He highlighted various problems being faced by soap manufacturing industry.
These included smuggling, under-invoicing, dry ports, excise duty, palm stearine and export.