Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Ghulam Murtaza Khan Jatoi, to help promote the traditional textile sector and home production on Friday, inaugurated two Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) funded projects worth in Rs.100 million in district Swat.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi said federal government under the auspices of SMEDA had successfully completed three PSDP funded projects in the district.

He further added that funds for the purchasing of machinery for another in the district will also be allocated in the budget for next financial year. Also the establishment of Dying, Washing & Pressing CFC will minimize the cost of the textile business in area.

The federal minister said that the present government after coming power had developed industrial sector in the country and industrial growth which was merely 3% in 2013 is now 6%. Similarly, he said that that the problems of power load shedding and gas shedding have also been resolved.

He said that under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) one each industrial estate would be established in all four provinces and FATA while two more industrial zones will also be established in Karachi and Islamabad.

The Federal government is also going to establish an export processing zone at Gwadar.

He said that the Common Facilitation Centres (CFCs) established under the auspices of SMEDA will help minimize the problems of the businessmen of the concerned sectors and will help value addition of their products. He expressed gratitude to the minister for showing keen interest in release of funds for the projects.

Regarding demands of the business community, he directed granting maximum share to the traders of Swat in Economic Revitalization of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA (ERKF) project and simplification of criteria for submission of applications under it.

Those present on the occasion were included Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), Sher Ayub Khan, General Manager Out-Reach (GMOR), SMEDA, Javed Iqbal Khattak, president, Swat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Haji Noor Mohammad and representatives of Islampur Cottage Industries, Honey Bee Keepers Association, Small and Medium Enterprises Group Association.