SIALKOT, Aug 24: Minister of State and Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) chairman Tariq Ikram has said that foreign investment in leather and leather garments industries to meet the growing challenges of the WTO would be welcomed.

He was speaking at ceremony held to distribute certificates among the participants of ISO-14000 (EMS) lead auditors’ training, cleaner production and environmental management in tanneries industry course at the Cleaner Production Centre (CPC) here on Saturday. The course was sponsored by the Pakistan Gloves Manufacturers and Exporters Association and the Norway Embassy in Islamabad.

Royal Norwegian Embassy’s charge d’affaires Mr. Alfe Ramseline, CPC project’s Norwegian coordinator Prof Bob and Sialkot District Nazim Mian Naeem Javaid also attended the ceremony.

The minister said that the social and environmental compliance of the WTO would be ensured in leather and leather garments industries. A policy would soon be announced in this regard.

He said that the EPB had completed three mega projects to control environment pollution in Karachi, Kasur and Sialkot with the collaboration of the UNIDO and Norway’s donor agency NORAD.

A special package of incentives for the exporters would soon be announced, the minister said.

According to him, the country’s shoe industry increased 42 per cent exports.

He said efforts were under way for the early completion of Sialkot tanneries zone. Later, owners would be given incentives to shift their tanneries to the zone.

Tariq Ikram told Dawn that the EPB was planning to enhance the volume of mutual transit trade ties with Afghanistan.

He said that EPB would give incentives to the traders of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Replying to a question, he said the EPB would help Sialkot’s export-oriented cottage industries in meeting the challenges of the WTO. Tariq Akram said that the Pakistan government has yet to receive any proposal from the Indian government to restore mutual trade.

Norwegian Embassy’s charge d’affaires Mr. Alfe Ramseline told this correspondent that his government has decided to increase investment in the Clear Production Centre project, following it’s success in Sialkot’s leather and leather garments industries.