Sardar Usman Ghani has been elected Central Chairman of Pakistan Hardware Merchants Association (PHMA) on Monday, while Ahmad Dawood has been appointed the Chairman of the Northern Zone of the association.
The newly elected Executive Committee Members are Sardar Usman Ghani, Sheikh Ahmed Dawood, Zeshan Khalil, Sheikh Sikandar Riaz, Mohammad Waseem, Mian Taha Zamir, Syed Tariq Rashid (Karachi), Kashif Hanif Qadri (Karachi), Nadeem Ahmed Kushtiwala (Karachi), Waseem Uzzafar Qadari (Karachi), Shoukat Ismail (Karachi) and Hafiz Mansoor Ahmad (Karachi).
Sardar Usman Ghani has a four-pronged strategy for the local hardware sector to cope with tough economic conditions. First, the local hardware sector should focus on exports targeting non-traditional markets such as Africa and Central Asia. Hardware exports can provide an invaluable source of diversifying Pakistan’s narrow export base mainly involving items such as cotton and textile, leather, rice, sports, surgical and processed raw materials. Second, the local hardware sector must promote research and development to produce better quality goods cost effectively. Sardar Usman Ghani believes this must be coupled with changing demand trends and access to new markets. Third, the industry must invest in technology and manpower.
This is essential for both innovation and workforce productivity. Fourth, leading firms in the local hardware sector must forge out joint ventures with relevant global champions to be more productive.
Ghani is also planning to better organize local hardware firms for encouraging them to effectively coordinate their efforts in producing innovative goods competitively. But he is worried about the low technology-preparedness of local hardware sector firms to compete internationally.
This is where joint ventures with global partners can be highly beneficial for all involved. Pakistan is a resource-rich country with one of the youngest and low-cost workforce anywhere in the world. It has a large domestic market. The country is geographically well-positioned to do business with many untapped and lucrative regional and international markets.
