Zardari seeks greater market access for Pak products

The president has urged international community to give greater market access to Pakistani products.

Addressing annual dinner of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association in Islamabad‚ President Asif Ali Zardari said that it was time for international community to think of ways to compensate the countries adversely affected by war on terror. He said the ongoing fight against militancy has inflicted huge damage to Pakistan s economy. Zardari said Pakistan is entitled to preferential treatment and greater market access due to its sacrifices in the war against terror. He asked the business community to give their input for economic development to political parties preparing manifesto for next general elections. Lauding twenty-five billion dollars export target by the textile sector he said that there is a potential for one hundred billion dollars. The president acknowledged that there was need to provide enabling environment for growth of the sector and agreed that the interest rate should be brought further down to give boost to the industry. He proposed floating of special textile bonds to provide soft money to textile sector for its development. The president urged exporters to look for other markets to given a meaningful boost to the country s exports.