LAHORE, March 9: Federal Industries Minister Jehangir Tareen has said that 100 pilot projects will be implemented in the four provinces and Azad Kashmir under the ‘Aik Hunar Aik Nagar Project’ in two years for creating new employment opportunities for non-farm rural manpower at its doorstep.
He was speaking as the chief guest at a seminar on ‘Rural Crafts Modernisation’ at the Women Expo at the Fortress Stadium here on Friday.
He said the pilot projects would add value to the existing products but also help non-farm rural entrepreneurs to increase their income manifold by accessing to the urban and foreign market. The project had been launched on the advice of prime minister who was also monitoring it personally. The ministry of industries was giving the inputs, guidelines and support for setting up 100 pilot projects, he added.
He said there was a vast scope for women to play an active role in craftsmanship of AHAN projects. He was confident that the project would not only help create job opportunities for rural youth but also promote economic condition of women.
Project director Sohail Amir said pilot projects for silverware, beadwork and embroidery, handloom (khaddar and silk products), shawls and crochet had already been launched and selection of 100 pilot projects on the advice of the government was in progress. The district nazims and DCOs throughout the country had been contacted to identify potential products from their districts. Other stakeholders of small enterprises in rural areas were also being approached for their feedback.
The designers of the projects being run by AHAN currently also apprised the participants about the development activities in their respective projects.
TRUCK INDUSTRY: APP adds Country’s first trucking industry policy will be finalised by April and presented before the cabinet for approval.
“The policy is aimed at modernisation of trucking fleet in the country as a part of National Trade Corridor project,” Mr Tareen said while talking to newsmen after inaugurating regional directorate of National Industrial Parks Development and Management Company (NIP) here on Friday.
He said an action plan for trucking sector would be completed this month after consultation with the stakeholders.
Mr Tareen said the NIP was planning to set up industrial estates for truck/bus body building sector in Lahore and Rawalpindi as a part of government’s efforts to transform transport, especially the trucking sector, into a formal industry.
“The bus/tuck body building units from Bund Road (Lahore) and Pir Wadhai (Rawalpindi) will be relocated to these industrial clusters,” he said.