KARACHI: President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan has said that the market of Orangi town, which was a very old market established in 1958, holds excellent expertise in handcrafted banarsi clothing that must be effectively promoted in several potential markets around the world with a view to improve the meager exports of this particular non-traditional item which was capable of fetching substantial amount of foreign exchange.
“The high-quality and delicate handmade banarsi work, which though being done at a smaller scale in Orangi market, cannot be compared with other similar products being manufactured in India but unfortunately the Pakistani made banarsi products are unable to capture a sizeable share in the export markets due to lack of support hence, the government must look into the problems being faced by producers of this invaluable item and accordingly provide a level playing field, besides undertaking export promotion activities to promote Pakistani banarsi products”, he added while exchanging views with a delegation from All Orangi Traders Association led by its Chairman Abdullah Batra.
Vice President KCCI Shahid Ismail, Chairman of KCCI’s Special Committee for Small Traders Majeed Memon, Advisor Special Committee for Small Traders Tanveer Barry and KCCI Managing Committee Members were also present on the occasion.
Agha Shahab said that it was indeed a great honor for the entire nation that the manufacturers of banarsi handcraft from Orangi Town have the honor of producing Ghilaf-e-Kaaba twice yet they are not receiving the kind of attention they deserves.
President KCCI, while extending full support and cooperation to the business community of Orangi market, said that KCCI’s door are always open as they firmly believes in supporting the entire business community without any discrimination of cast, color, creed and even size of the business. “The manufacturers of banarsi products must focus on innovation and value addition and they must also utilize all available platforms to effectively market their products. In this regard, they should look into the possibility of participating in KCCI’s My Karachi Exhibition which is a perfect platform to promote such products as this exhibition, besides being attended by one million visitors, is also attended by a good number of foreign delegates”, he added.
He was of the view that in addition to banarsi products, production of several mechanical and marble products was also going on in the Orangi market which is over-crowded with dozens of small factories who should not be neglected by the government as they desperately require special attention.
Leader of the delegation and Chairman All Orangi Traders Association Abdullah Batra, while appreciating the supporting and cooperation being extended by Karachi Chamber to small traders, said, “Small traders are usually reluctant to visit the Chamber to get their issues resolved mainly due to the misconception that KCCI is a representative trade body of industries only which is not factual at all as under the supervision of Chairman BMG & Former President KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli, KCCI has been dedicatedly serving the entire business community particularly small traders which we highly admire.”
He said that the small factories in Orangi town need support hence KCCI, being the premier Chamber, must protect and safeguard the interest of small traders from this particular locality.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Special Committee for Small Traders Majeed Memon stated that Karachi Chamber, being the actual trade body of the entire business community, raises voice to get the issues resolved by everyone from a small shopkeeper to a leading industrialist. Hence, businessmen and traders belonging to All Orangi Traders Association must come forward and bring their issues to KCCI’s notice so that the Chamber could make serious efforts to get them amicably resolved. “The business community from Orangi town must stay in touch and actively participate in activities so that KCCI could get acquainted with their issues and accordingly devise strategies on how to resolve the same on priority basis”, he added.
