PESHAWAR, Oct 21: A 15-member delegation of industrialists comprising representatives of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry called on NWFP Governor Khalil-ur-Rehman here on Friday and requested him to help solve the problems faced by them in the province.

The delegation led by the FPCCI’s vice-president Faiz Rasool invited the governor’s attention to issues relating to exports through land to Afghanistan and put forward suggestions for increasing volume of such exports.

While appreciating the liberal policy of the government with regard to export of cement, particularly through the Ghulam Khan Post, the delegation demanded that a similar status be given to other export items.

Speaking on the occasion the governor appreciated the efforts made and initiatives taken by entrepreneurs, especially industrialists, to promote economic activities in the province and said that though progress in this respect was quite encouraging the nation had to go a long way in meeting new challenges.

He said Pakistan, being a country of 150 millions people, was itself a big market. It has advantageous location to export its products across the border and entrepreneurs must use their resources to capture the market. He also stressed the need of ensuring the quality of products and increasing the volume of export.

The governor also said that the government was making all-out efforts to develop industry in Fata and the response was quite encouraging.

Responding to certain proposals put forward by the delegation, particularly those for upgrading facilities at the industrial estates at Hattar, Peshawar and Kohat, the governor advised them to come up with concrete suggestions and assured them that he would present their point of view at the federal level.

The governor reminded the members of the delegation that efforts were underway to promote industry and the agriculture in FATA.

The delegation apprised the governor of salient features of activities of the FPCCI in the province. Provincial Secretary for Industry Ensanullah Khan and Secretary to Governor Arbab Muhammad Arif were present on the occasion. District Nazim Peshawar Haji Ghulam Ali accompanied the delegation.