April 20, 2006	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 21, 1427

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BAHAWALPUR, April 19: The Bahawalpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has recommended to the federal government for setting up of a textile mills, a food processing plant and a livestock export zone here.

While submitting proposals for the inclusion in the next financial year’s trade policy, BCCI president Mehboob Nasir Chaudhry said although the Bahawalpur region was producing 34 per cent of the total country’s cotton, it had not the required number of textile mills.

He further proposed that in future the availability of raw material should be taken into consideration while sanctioning the establishment of heavy industries in any particular area.

Since the region was producing fruits and vegetables in abundance, he stressed the need to set up food processing plants in different areas of the division.

About the demand of a livestock export zone, he justified it owing to the availability of cattle wealth in the vast Cholistan desert and other parts of the region.

This zone, if established, would help meet the needs of mutton, beef, milk, wool and leather in addition to export of these products.

For this purpose, he also impressed upon the government to open offices of the EPB, the Smeda and the expo centre in Bahawalpur.

Recommendations also included the demand of chamber’s representation in all trade delegations visiting foreign countries from time to time.