SIALKOT, May 19: The Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and a private company signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday for the construction of an international standard expo centre.

Sialkot district nazim Akmal Cheema presided over the ceremony, while Punjab industries minister Mohammad Ajmal Cheema was the chief guest. The SCCI president was also present on the occasion. Ajmal Cheema and representatives of the private company inked this MoU.

Earlier, the industries minister and district nazim Akmal Cheema laid the foundation stone of the project.

The SCCI chief said the local business community had undertaken this project on a self-help basis after establishing the grand projects of Sialkot dry port, the export processing zone and the international airport on a self-help basis.

He said the exporters had generated special funds of Rs142 million on a self-help basis for the timely completion of the expo centre. It would be constructed on three kanals adjacent to the SCCI building, with a cost of Rs142 million. The project would be completed in a stipulated period of two years