KARACHI: The government should focus non-tradition items like plastic to boost its exports as the polymer industry has an average growth of 8 to10 per cent per annum and plastic exports are around 15pc said Mr Zubair F. Tufail, President of The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), while inaugurating a three day PakPlas 2017 exhibition of plastic machinery, equipment, raw material and technology at the Expo Centre Karachi on Friday.

Plastic is an alternate to metal, paper and glass. Everything like auto parts, aeroplanes and household utensils are made with plastic, the plastic industry would grow fast in the coming years due to the China - Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Mr Tufail added.

Mr Zakaria Usman, Patron-in-chief Pakistan Plastic Manufactures Association (PPMA) said plastic is the mother industry of all industries and many countries in the world like Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Korea had developed by promoting their plastic industry. He urged the government to set up a ‘Plastic City’ and assist the local industry. It should also focus on non-traditional items, he stressed.

Chairman of PPMA Ehtesham Uddin said the exhibition consisted of more than 100 stalls by 80 national and international leading brands, and companies.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2017