June 11, 2002	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 29, 1423

KARACHI, June 10: An exhibition on “IT solutions for manufacturing industry” is being held on Wednesday at a local hotel in which 25 IT-related companies will demonstrate their products and expertise.

This was stated by representatives of Pakistan Software Houses Association (PASHA), Aptma, PRGMEA, KATI, Site Association and FPCCI at a joint press briefing on Monday. Provincial Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh will inaugurate the exhibition.

PASHA president Syed Hamza Matin said that the aim of holding this exhibition is to provide IT solutions to industrialists besides highlighting other modern modes of automation to make their products cost effective in world markets.

Aptma chief executive Khalid Amin said that Pakistan’s exports have been stagnating for the last five years ranging between $8-9 billion as compared to other countries which are smaller than Karachi.

“It is time now for our industries to acquire technical knowledge if we want to excel as a nation, as a country and as a company,” he said.

In the last 15 months, he said, Pakistani textile and its related item exporters are sending higher quantities but fetching lower values.

By getting access to information technology, delivery timing of goods can be reduced, cost could come down and quality could be improved, Amin said.

Former chairman of Site Association Zubair Motiwalla said that the federal and Sindh governments have adopted lethargic attitude towards promoting the IT in the country. “Both governments have virtually failed in this area,” he added.

He said huge funds were allocated in IT sector by both governments but these were exhausted in other projects. He said Karachi was particularly deprived of these funds.