16 January 2005	Sunday	05 Zilhaj 1425

LAHORE, Jan 15: The Punjab government is establishing a carpet city spread over an area of 150 acres in the second phase of the Sundar Industrial Estate.

This was stated by Industries Minister Ajmal Cheema while speaking at a ceremony held by the Township Industrial Estate Association to swear in its new office-bearers here on Saturday.

Mr Cheema said the government would also set up 4,000 carpet weaving centres in the rural areas of the province that would generate 1.2 million jobs. He said the government had taken every possible measure to restore the confidence of businessmen and investors and reduced the role of the government departments.

"Now it is time for businessmen to rise to the occasion and play their role in order to escalate the economic growth. Both the government and the private sector would have to work shoulder to shoulder for poverty alleviation," he added.

Mr Cheema said the government would soon make laws to reduce the role of outside leaders in labour unions of industrial units so that the industrialists could work with peace of mind. He said the number of social security hospitals would be doubled in two years. Similarly, the number of beds in these hospitals would be increased to 4,400.