Ceramic tiles industry demands more protection
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Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan held a meeting with the All Pakistan Ceramic Tiles Manufacturers Association, which was attended by representatives from 10 leading Pakistani manufacturers and four Chinese firms, who discussed opportunities for collaboration and growth.
Key issues that came up for discussion included tariff policy, customs duty, export and import regulations and the need for tariff protection, said a statement issued by the Ministry of Industries. While appreciating the vital role of the ceramic tiles industry in industrial development, Khan stressed that he was fully aware of the challenges faced by them and would advocate for their cause.
He told them to submit a detailed report outlining the specific reasons as to why heightened tariff protection was essential for the industry. The PM aide announced the formation of a joint committee comprising members of the tiles manufacturers association and officials of the Engineering Development Board. The committee will present a progress report by Thursday.
"The administration under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif remains committed to supporting and revitalising Pakistan's industrial sector. We are actively advocating for industries at the National Tariff Policy Board to ensure their concerns are addressed," he remarked.
He reiterated his vision to see Pakistani manufacturers become regionally competitive, adding that no industry would be allowed to shut down. "Revival of industries is our vision and we are formulating long-term policies to ensure sustainable growth."
In a separate meeting with Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb, a delegation of the All Pakistan Ceramic Tiles Manufacturers Association, led by Orient Ceramica Executive Director Abdul Rehman Talat, shared that the current installed tiles manufacturing capacity in Pakistan stood at 560,000 square metres per day, backed by an investment of over Rs100 billion, of which nearly 60% came from China.
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