LAHORE – The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) annual dinner was held for the first time at the presidency. It was attended by over 250 guests, including businessmen, APTMA members and presidents of various chambers of commerce and industry, trade associations, bureaucrats, federal secretaries and relevant federal ministers.
The function was successful in drawing the desired result in the case of both the government and APTMA. President Asif Ali Zardari assured support for the way forward presented by the APTMA Chairman Gohar Ejaz in his speech on the occasion. He stressed that the government was fully supportive of APTMA’s efforts and appreciated APTMA proposals on market access, cotton issues and free market mechanism for the larger benefit of cotton farmers and the textile industry.
The president also stressed upon the need for regular interaction to bridge the gap between policy making and implementation. He also stated that the newly appointed minister of textile industry would call upon APTMA within a week for a briefing pertaining to the issues and affairs faced in the textile industry. He also claimed that he would monitor the situation personally and would stay in touch with APTMA leadership for monitoring the daily progress of government initiatives for the promotion of the textile industry.
He also urged APTMA to remain in close contact with all concerned ministries. President Zardari also declared 2011 the Year of Textile as part of a bid to achieve new heights in the promotion of the textile industry. He also expressed a desire for an enhanced role of APTMA with regards to market access and efforts to overcome energy shortages. President also stressed the pressing need for Public Private Partnership to achieve economic goals and the role of APTMA management in government think tanks for economic progress.
The APTMA management recognised the services of textile legends including Shahzada Alam Monnoo, Bashir Alimohammad and the late Razzaq Tabba during the Legends of APTMA Awards. President Zardari conferred these awards to these industry gurus.
