RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Excise and Taxation Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman has said that employment to 500,000 additional workers in the Punjab carpet industry is on top priority of the Punjab government.

While talking to various delegations of the cottage industry and investors of carpet sectors, he said, “Pakistan produces many varieties of carpet using different kinds: wool, using different dyeing, weaving and finishing techniques which are quite unique in the world.

The skill of carpet weaving is alive from generation to generation by the skilful artisans of the country and the Punjab government is providing all out corporation to enhance the skill of the labourers and provides funds for the non-formal education of the labourers in this field.

“The carpet industry is the largest cottage industry of the country and Punjab government is fully aware of its problems and stands fully committed to revive the labour intensive carpet sector.

The export of carpet is a handsome source of earning foreign exchange and government is taking steps for the blooming of the carpet industry.

Up to Rs 3 billion interest free loan have been provided to 1, 68,000 people through Punjab Small Industries Corporation to provide employment through the cottage industries.”

He further said that “The Punjab government is also providing Rs 3 billion interests free loan during current fiscal year whereas the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) will also provide $140 million cooperation for this purpose.”

He also said that the Punjab government had considered education as a tool to development and record funds had been provided for school and college education, with Rs.2.40 billion being provided for the non-formal basic education to two million illiterate people.

“Our country of 190 million people has a vibrant economy and this makes South Asia as the only large economic area that shall not face a decline in the number of people entering the labour force for the next 50 years, whereas, future is ours.

Up to 300,000 students under the age of 4 to 15 years are getting education under the non-formal basic education schools established at various working places,” he added.