SIALKOT, May 3: Punjab Minister for Industries Mohammad Ajmal Cheema on Saturday disclosed that the government had okayed 200 non-traditional items for export to the American, African, Middle East and European Union countries.

He was speaking at a seminar organized jointly by the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and the Pakistan Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA).

The minister said that the permission to export 200 non-traditional items would be helpful in boosting Gujranwala’s plastic industry, Gujrat’s metal fan industry, Daska’s agriculture machinery industry, Wazirabad’s cutlery industry, Chiniot’s furniture industry and Sialkot’s cottage industry.

Urging the Sialkot exporters to focus their attention on diversifying exports, the Punjab minister for industries assured them that all out efforts would be made for converting the area comprising Sialkot, Gujranwala and Gujrat districts into Pakistan’s Hong Kong. He expressed his belief that Sialkot’s exporters could help the country earn one billion dollars annually.

He promised Sialkot an ultra-modern Export Processing Zone (EPZ).

The minister also announced establishment of an exporters colony near the Sialkot EPZ, which was 22km from Sialkot city.

He also announced provision of all the needed facilities and incentives to exporters, industrialists and investors at the Sialkot EPZ.

Speaking on the occasion, EPZA chairman Col Akbar Hussain said that Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali would announce a special package of incentives and facilities for investors in country’s EPZs by the end of this month.

He said that the government had notified six EPZs in the country, and it planned to establish 19 more.

He announced that the 238-acre Sialkot EPZ would become functional next year. It would provide jobs to 35,000 to 40,000 people of the area.

SCCI president Babar Iqbal assured complete cooperation of Sialkot’s business community in this regard.

SCCI senior vice president Mohammad Sadiq Goraya and vice president Malik Mohammad Ashraf were also present on the occasion.