LAHORE, April 6: Top textile businessmen are expected to call on President Asif Ali Zardari, who is in the provincial capital these days, on Saturday (today) to discuss with him proposals to turn the sliding economy around and revive the manufacturing.

The delegation of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association led by its chairman Mohsin Aziz and chairman of the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Energy Gohar Ejaz will meet the president at the Governor’s House. Others expected to be part of the delegation include Aptma-Punjab chairman Ahsan Bashir, Seth Mohammad Akbar and Shahzad Ali Khan.

The textile businessmen are likely to impress upon the president to reduce the cost of borrowing and ensure uninterrupted supply of gas and electricity to the industry in order to create new jobs, increase exports and revive fresh investment in the manufacturing.

“We expect the president to continue his support to the country’s largest industrial sector, which employs 47 per cent of the non-farm labour, constitutes up to 60pc of the export revenues, and contributes over nine per cent to the gross domestic product,” an Aptma leader told this reporter.

“We are hopeful that he (the president) will patiently and sympathetically listen to our problems and take action to solve them in the best interest of the economy and the country.” — Staff Reporter