SIALKOT, Dec 18: Philanthropists and the private sector play a pivotal role to help the government in launching various social, welfare and economic development projects in the country.

This was stated by Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi while speaking to participants after the ground-breaking ceremony of the Sialkot International Airport near Sambrial in Daska tehsil on Thursday.

The chief minister said the airport would prove a milestone towards the stability of the national economy. After the completion of the project, he said it would open new vistas of economic development in the country and bring a boom in the industrial sector.

He said that it would also help in doubling the export from Sialkot to $1,400 million annually, thus catering to the need of the entire Gujranwala division.

Industrialists and exporters of Sialkot had set a unique precedent for others in the country to follow by successfully launching a mega project on self-help basis, he said.

The chief minister said the environment was conducive to foreign investment in Pakistan due to the investment-friendly policies of the government.

He urged the exporters to focus on the diversification of traditional and non-traditional export items and exploring the new international markets.

Speaking on the occasion, National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Ameer Hussain termed the facility of an airport in Sialkot a great achievement of the local business community. He said the airport would be helpful in changing the economic fate of this region.

In his speech, Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Tahir Majeed Kapur said that cargo flights from Sialkot airport would be started from Aug 14, 2004, while regular domestic and international flights from January, 2005.

Punjab Industries and Investment Minister Muhammad Ajmal Cheema, Punjab Labour and Human Resources Minister Syed Akhtar Hussain Rizvi, various MNAs, MPAs, senior CAA officials, Sialkot District Nazim Mian Naeem Javaid and DCO Capt Zahid Saeed (retired) were also present on the occasion.