KARACHI: President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Abdul Majid Haji Muhammad has expressed fear that two-day gas load shedding will hamper industrial production in the country.
“This may cause a negative growth in industrial sector and affect the overall GDP performance”, he said while talking to media after inaugurating 5th international Machine Tools and Automation Pakistan (MTAP) and Auto and Auto Parts Pakistan (AAPP) 2009, organized by Pegasus Consultancy at Karachi Expo Center here Thursday.
He said that this will not be a two-day load shedding, but its affect will be felt on “third day” as it will take another day to build up the pressure in gas pipelines before the gas is supplied to industry.
“We will oppose it with full pressure and keep forcing the government to defer this decision as it had postponed the two-day holiday decision in the country”, he maintained.
Abdul Majid Haji Muhammad said that KCCI will organize single country exhibitions in Africa and South America early next year to familiarize and boost exports of Pakistani products in these continents.
“We have started preparation for organizing these two mega shows abroad. Both of these exhibitions will be held in January and February”, he added
He said that KCCI had always organized trade delegations for Iran and Turkey in the past. But there is a demand from the members that new market should be explored to boost the exports of their goods”, he added.
Referring to the exhibition, he said it was a great effort that despite the prevailing law and order situation in the country, the organizers have been successful in bringing in 100 representatives from 30 leading companies. I congratulate them on this achievement, he said.
He said exhibitors from USA, Germany, Brazil, Japan, India and Singapore are here despite travel advisories and they are displaying their products at the event. I have talked to various exhibitors about the products and their impression about Pakistan and their replies are very encouraging, he added.
Jean-Claude Chalouhi, head of international sale Mastercut Tool Corp, USA said that this was his first participation at the exhibition and he will come back. I was so scared about coming here. Everybody told me not to go to Pakistan, but now I am relaxed. Karachi is a peaceful and safe place, he said. R K Jain, director Push-up Tools Udyog Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, India said that his company designs and produces dies for nuts and bolts. We are here for the first time and hope to get orders for dies from Pakistani auto manufacturers. He said media was scaring people about Pakistan, but I see myself safe here. I do not see any danger or harassment here, he noted. —Agency