ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Textile and Commerce has approved proposals for development projects worth Rs25.63 billion for inclusion in the budget of 2018-19.

The proposals were discussed and recommended for incorporation in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for 2018-19 while the meeting was headed by its chairman MNA Siraj Muhammad Khan.

As part of the advocated plan, an amount of Rs8.55bn was proposed for seven projects relating to the establishment of new expo centres in Islamabad, Quetta and Faisalabad and expansion of the Karachi Expo Centre, provision of hostel and transport facility to students of Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design, and the completion of Peshawar Expo Centre.

These projects will be executed in 2018-19 and fall under the ambit of commerce division.

For textile division, an amount of Rs11.1bn has been proposed for five new projects and Rs6.06bn for seven projects which were being resubmitted for approval by the planning and development division.

The new projects to be initiated in 2018-19 include establishment of National Textile University (NTU) campus in Quetta, Garment City Project in Karachi, construction of a new library at NTU Faisalabad and implementation of system for the standardisation of high quality cotton.

The projects resubmitted for approval related to PM Skill Development Programme for textile industry and studies for climatic change, recycling of organic wastes, restoration of soil fertility and cost management in cotton production and marketing.

The committee recommended entire proposed PSDP of the Ministry of Textile and Commerce Division for inclusion in the upcoming federal budget.

It also expressed satisfaction on the progress of the implementation by the divisions concerned.

Meanwhile, the committee directed the commerce division to expedite the proposed amendment to Pakistan Tobacco Board Act to ensure supply of registered and certified tobacco seed to the growers.

The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Commerce and Textile Muhammad Akram Ansari, Asadur Rehman, Mrs Seema Mohiuddin Jameeli, Ms Tahira Aurangzeb, Ms Zeb Jaffar, Dr Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharral, Nazir Ahmed Bughio, Ms Mussarat Ahmad Zeb, Ms Sajida Begum, Dr Fouzia Hameed and Sanjay Perwani.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2018