FAISALABAD: The research and development cell of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be reorganized on modern lines enabling it to provide much needed technical support and guidance to industrial units for their transformation into high tech and energy efficient entities.
This was stated by Vice President FCCI Engineer Ahmed Hassan while addressing a joint meeting of the FCCI standing committee on R&D and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) here on Friday. The meeting was also attended by Dr Hafsa Jamshaid, Head of Knitting Department of the National Textile University (NTU) Faisalabad.
He said the breath taking changes at the international level coupled with the CPEC project had further enhanced the importance of industrial upgradation in Pakistan. He said the FCCI was providing necessary financial resources to the R&D cell so that it could serve as a competent, reliable and efficient problem solving forum especially for the SME sector.
He said various major industrial units had their own dedicated R&D Department. However, the FCCI will make efforts to remain in touch with these organizations to avoid duplication of research.
Engineer Ahmed Hassan said a special desk would be set up in the R&D department. It would involve the faculty members from the National Textile Units (NTU), University of Engineering and Technology and University of Agriculture, in addition to other research organizations.
He said the FCCI had already signed MOU with these organizations which will bridge the widening gap between industry and academia. He also stressed the need to conduct primary research along with secondary and applied research. Amjad Saeed Khwaja, Senior Vice Chairman Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA) North Zone, acknowledged the services of the NTU and said it had played a key role in the uplift of the textile sector.
Former president FCCI Muzamil Sultan, Dr Habib Aslam Ghabba, Rehan Naseem Bhrara, Chairman Faisalabad Garments City, and Dr Hafsa Jamshaid also spoke.
