LAHORE– Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) Chief Executive Mian Kashif Ashfaq has urged people to show nationalistic approach by buying made in Pakistan products to defeat dollar mafia and avoid foreign luxury goods to curtail import bill.
Presiding over a board of director meeting here today, Mian Kashif, who is also Chairman Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development and Management Company (FIEDMC), said to cope with the currency crisis in the country the government must take on board the business community for consultation and evolve strategy to end the crisis.
He said despite the toughest challenges the economy is passing through, the government under the dynamic leadership of Imran Khan is committed to protecting and promoting the local industry and this is indeed a good omen for the business community as a whole.
Kashif said this is proper time that Pakistani entrepreneurs should develop international standard brands products to capture open global markets besides earning more foreign exchange.
He said instead of being brand consciousness, “We need to promote the culture of buying local made products to boost growth of local industry and to increase job opportunities in the country.”
He said that private sector had to come forward to develop their own brands on war footings for their survival.
Kashif said Pakistan was producing some of the best products in the world in sports, textile, fruits, vegetables, handicrafts, handmade furniture and in several other sectors but not exporting them under its own brands.
“We must not only develop but promote brands through manufacturing the best quality products which is the need of the hour,” he added.
Mian Kashif also suggested the business community must do their business in local currency and transaction through local banks to stabilize the local currency for economic stability in the country.
Giving example of Turkish currency crisis, he said the same currency crisis few months ago surfaced in Turkey but the government and people of Turkey met this challenge with national spirit and patriotism by buying more and more local currency.
He said for reducing the trade deficit and to resolve the issue of balance of payment, “We need to avoid unnecessary import in the country.”
He said “We need to decrease cost of doing business to make the local industries competitive with the world market and to attract more Foreign Direct Investment as well”.
Mian Kashif however stressed the need to promote positive image of the country in the world to attract more and more investment in the country.— PRESS RELEASE
