SIALKOT, June 22: The local business community has been urged to focus its attention on exploring new foreign markets for boosting the national economy.

This was stated by Punjab Governor Lt-Gen Khalid Maqbool (retired) while speaking to traders and industrialists on Saturday after inaugurating the newly established Export Processing Zone (EPZ) at Sambrial, Daska tehsil.

He said the government was committed to revive sick economy by providing the business friendly environment to the national and foreign investors.

Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC) managing director Nasir Mehmood Khosa said there were 850 commercial plots of different categories in the Sialkot EPZ. He said it was mutually established by the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA), PSIC and the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

Briefing the governor about the Sialkot international airport, its chief executive, Dr Muhammad Aslam Dar, said the work on mega project would soon be started and hopefully it would be completed by the end of 2004.

The governor directed the Nespak authorities to complete the project in accordance with the international standard.

The government, he said, was making every possible effort to bring qualitative improvement in the corporate sector by increasing productivity and enhancing good relationship between the employer and the employee.

Advancement in the corporate sector was the government’s top priority and the country had recorded satisfactory growth in this sector through the proper use of modern technology, he said.

SCCI president Daud Ahmad Chattha, Sialkot Dry Port chairman and SSP Muhammad Tahir were also present on the occasion.