PESHAWAR, Dec 13: NWFP Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani on Saturday presided over a meeting with carpet traders and manufacturers to discuss the project of Carpet Nagar, proposed to be set up in the outskirt of the provincial capital.

The meeting primarily focused on purchase of land for the project, identified somewhere near Tarujabba, east of Peshawar. It decided to constitute a seven-member contact group comprising three representatives from the traders and manufacturers, and three from that of the respective government departments besides a representative of the UNHCR.

The contact group would select suitable site and finalise the purchase accordingly. It was further decided that after nomination of the members of the Contact Group, its meeting would be convened shortly to initiate the process in this regard.

Carpet Nagar is the first project of its kind in the country and it would help boost the carpet industry on sound footings. All technical and other related facilities required for carpet weaving and finishing would be made available in the city.

Governor Ghani while addressing the meeting said that the government was committed to promote carpet manufacturing and trade in the province and desired fast track arrangements for establishment of the proposed Carpet Nagar plan.

He said that a project steering committee would also be constituted to accelerate the implementation process. The governor appreciated and welcomed the UNHCR for offering every possible support towards the project.

On a point, the governor hoped that the project would not only lead towards promotion of the carpet industry and trade in the province but would also facilitate the manufacturers technically besides solving the problems they were faced with due to the present undisciplined environment.