22 May 2004	Saturday	02 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

ISLAMABAD, May 21: Federal Minister for Industries and Production Liaquat Ali Jatoi has announced to launch the rural industrialization programme.

The minister was speaking at the closing session of a five- day international seminar on Enhancement of Productivity of Civil Society Organization (CSO) as chief guest at a local hotel.

The seminar was organized by the National Productivity (NPO), Ministry of Industries and Production, in collaboration with Asian Productivity Organization (APO) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Mr Jatoi emphasized that it was essential to promote the productivity movements particularly in rural areas to stop migration and provide better opportunities closer to their home towns.

Although, the NGOs can play an important role in alleviating poverty and generating employment by empowering the rural masses, the government also needed to take the initiative of transforming these small micro industries into small and medium enterprises.

While welcoming the international participants from 12 APO member countries, Mr Jatoi stressed upon the important role the CSOs were playing in alleviating poverty and supporting the socially vulnerable society.

The core purpose of the seminar was to give the civil sector a better understanding and exposure to modern productivity and quality tools. Productivity was presented as one of the yardsticks through which the efficiency and effectiveness of an organization could be measured and evaluated.

In his closing remarks, Mr Jatoi commended the efforts being made by NPO in organizing the seminar on the important issue. He said the NPO was taking the lead in introducing and promoting productivity and quality tools in this vital sector.

Realizing the importance of technical training at the grass- roots level, the minister also announced National Workers Training Programme to be organized by NPO-Pakistan in collaboration with various public and private technical institutions working in Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Saquib Mohyuddin, chief-NPO, welcomed the chief guest, resource persons and distinguished participants and highlighted the importance of organizing the seminar on this topic.