LAHORE, Jan 26: The Punjab government is launching from June a model project for arranging training of some 1,400 garment stitchers and instructors by foreign consultants to promote value addition in the textile sector in the province.

The project would cost around Rs18 million and would be shared equally by the government and 15 private companies. The government would also provide infrastructure facilities to conduct the programme through TEVTA-run institutions.

The decision to introduce training programmes for the garments industry was taken at a meeting held on Monday with Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi in the chair and attended by chief secretary Kamran Rasool, the secretaries of finance, industries, and planning & development (P&D) and prominent businessmen, including Gohar Ejaz, Awais Mazhar and M. I. Khurram. CM's adviser Jehangir Tarin was also present in the meeting.