ISLAMABAD, Oct 29: Commerce minister Abdul Razak Dawood has urged the country’s sports goods industry to switch to structured materials, from traditional use of wood, to advance composite materials and to boost the export potential and revenues.

He was talking to the participants of the inaugural session of a three-day Pak-Asean international workshop on ‘Industrial Composite Design and Applications’ on Tuesday. The event has been organized by National University of Science and Technology (Nust) in collaboration with Air Weapons Complex, under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The inaugural session was attended by a large number of officials and workshop participants. A number of foreign speakers alongwith the locals will give presentations during the workshop which is to conclude on Thursday.

The minister stressed that the member countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations must join hands for exploiting their tremendous potential at the international level for the common benefit of mankind.

He said advancement in science and technology had brought a revolution in the working conditions, thinking and structure of society.

A significant role in this transformation, he added, was played by the advancement in composite materials. Such kind of materials are lighter than aluminium yet stronger than steel.

The innovative use of such materials has enhanced the industrial growth of Western countries. It has enabled the machines to rotate at higher rpms, aircraft to fly faster and farther, and automobiles to travel faster, the minister said.

This workshop provides a platform to the industrialists, academics and research scientists to work together for a transformation in industrial products.

“To achieve self-reliance, we have no option but to broaden the base of our know-how through promoting the culture of holding technical workshops and conferences,” Mr Razzak said.