ISLAMABAD, July 15: The Expert Advisory Cell (EAC) and National Productivity Organization (NPO), subsidiary organizations of the Ministry of Industries and Production, will be corporatized to make them independent.

This was decided at the 30th meeting of Board of Governors of EAC held here on Thursday under chairmanship of the Federal Minister for Industries & Production, Liaqat Ali Jatoi.

Those present in the meeting included the industries secretary, Pakistan Steel chairman, chief of NPO and other senior officials of the ministry of industries and production.

The decision, it was felt, would enable the two organizations to play a more proactive role in the development of industrial sector of Pakistan. The minister directed that the formal proceedings for corporation of EAC and NPO be initiated without delay and that the private sector given majority in their boards of directors.

Mr Jatoi also directed the EAC to conduct a survey of the industrial sector on the impact of World Trade Organization. Both the organizations should work for obtaining better results in their efforts to provide technical know-how to the industrial sector and training to its personnel to help them become more effective, he further stressed.

The meeting was informed that the National Industrial Policy 2004 would be finalized soon and submitted for approval of the competent authority next month. Besides, the Human Resources Development Policy 2004 as well as the long-term strategy for development of iron and steel industry in Pakistan under "Steel Vision 2015" was also under preparation and would be completed soon, it was further stated.

The Chief of EAC, Engr. Zahid Aziz, apprising the Board of Governors of his organization's performance, said it had produced 13 publications and organized eight seminars about investment during the last fiscal year.

It now planned to hold seminars/workshops on the potential of various sub-sectors including the electronics industry, directory of specialized equipment, digest of industrial sectors and prospects of chemical industry.

The board appreciated the role of EAC and NPO in improving awareness in the industrial sector about WTO agreements and their implications for trade and industry.

The meeting was also informed that the feedback received by the Business Support Centres working to facilitate the investors was encouraging and that 252 inquires were handled during 2003-04.

These centres facilitated 96 overseas Pakistanis and 40 foreigners. These centres also provided support to investors from 33 countries by providing them with 14 feasibility studies. The board also approved the budgets of EAC and NPO for the fiscal, 2004-05.