PAKISTAN NEEDS SKILLED MANPOWER TO PRODUCE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ARTS AND CRAFTS WORK– ICCI PRESIDENT

Pakistan has lot of potential to promote arts and crafts works in the country and some areas of Pakistan are already producing highly quality and world class arts and crafts works like hands made embroidery, carpets, cloths, woodwork, utensils etc and by providing latest training and improving skills of crafts professionals, this sector can be developed on professional lines which will not only create more job opportunities in the country, Pakistan will enhance exports of its arts and crafts works tremendously to earn valuable foreign exchange, stated Muhammad Ijaz Abbasi, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry while talking to a two member delegation comprising Mr. Kean Kim Joseph Lo, Culture & Development Coordinator of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Mr. Sarfraz Durrani, Director Coordination, National Vocational & Technical Education Commission (NAVTEC) who called on him at ICCI. He said to achieve these objectives; there is dire need to establish more vocational and technical training institutes in the country to produce knowledgeable and highly skilled arts and crafts professionals.

Muhammad Ijaz Abbasi said Pakistan is a country of very young population as about 100 million people of the country are below 25 years age but this budding talent needs better grooming and polishing to make it a highly productive asset for the country. He also emphasized upon the government to establish and promote clusters of industries according to competitive advantage and specialty of the area to stimulate area wise economic activities and to create more job opportunities

ICCI President said Islamabad Chamber of Commerce is establishing a vocational and technical training institute in Islamabad with its members’ cooperation to provide training in different professions keeping in view the requirements of business and industry and sought the cooperation of NAVTEC in this venture. Mr. Sarfraz Durrani, Director Coordination of NAVTEC assured him of financial and technical support from NAVTEC to complete this project. Muhammad Ijaz Abbasi also informed that for boosting exports, ICCI is constructing a seven storey Export Display Centre in Islamabad with its own resources for display of exportable items by trade and industry and hoped that this Centre will lead to enhancement in exports of the country.

Appreciating UNESCO & NAVTEC efforts, he said their initiatives will improve the quality and standard of our arts and crafts work, which will ultimately lead to enhanced exports of these products. He said Pakistan is currently exporting crafts products of about US$ 3-million and hoped that UNESCO and NAVTEC efforts will go a long way in enhancing quality standard and export of our arts & crafts works by producing highly skilled crafts professionals in the country.

In the end, Muhammad Ijaz Abbasi assured the delegation of ICCI full cooperation in identifying and involving private sector for targeting, developing and improving the quality of arts & crafts works to bring these products at par with international standard so that this sector could play an effective role in the economy of our country and Pakistan could further enhance their exports for earning valuable foreign exchange.