KARACHI: Pakistan International Trade Fair (PITF) will prove to be a gateway for Pakistani industries to global markets as 300 companies including 100 international firms have confirmed their participation.
This was disclosed by Fair and Exhibition FPCCI Chairman Hanif Gohar at the pre-event media briefing of the upcoming PITF at Badar’s Banquet here on Saturday. The PITF will be held at Karachi expo centre from October 26-29.
Gohar stated that a very positive response has been received from the foreign countries including Belarus, China, Iran, Malaysia, Russia, UAE, South Korea, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Germany, US, and Japan.
“President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain will inaugurate this trade fair, while high-profile dignitaries such as governors and chief ministers of all the provinces, federal and provincial ministers, and members of the diplomatic core will visit this fair. Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair has also allowed us to have its soft launch at the governor house on the 13th,” said Gohar.
He said they are organising this fair at a grand level as six halls of expo centre have already been booked, and this is first attempt of FPCCI in the last 35 years to organise such kind of event since 1984.
While giving the details of the participating companies, Fairs & Exhibition FPCCI Senior Vice Chairman Haris Ali Mithani informed that the products and services from major sectors to be showcased in PITF-2017 will include textile, construction and building material, chemical, FMCG brands, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electrical & electronics, financial services, handicrafts and logistics etc.
Mithani also commented that during PITF-2017 there will be hundreds of high-level meetings planned on the sidelines of the exhibition between trade bodies and foreign delegates, key government officials and participants of the exhibition to forge alliances and joint ventures in trade and industry.
“At the time when Pakistan’s exports are declining and political environment is critical, this exhibition will prove that Pakistan is still a land of opportunities. We have followed an international method in hosting this 4-day exhibition while we are working on organising 10-day exhibition fairs in the future,” said Mithani.
He added that the CPEC seminar is another important facet of PITF, which will be held on the second day of the fair and important papers and investment information will be disseminated by the learned speakers and professionals from the government and those who are directly associated with various projects in CPEC.
“The 6th hall of the centre will be Chinese pavilion where 48 Chinese companies will exhibit their products. The 5th hall will have multinational companies, and in the 4th hall, high-end brands from Pakistan will exhibit their products. The 3rd hall will have electronics, home appliances, building materials while the 2nd hall will have developers and builders,” said Mithani.
Also, various associated events such as the youth festival, fashion shows by textile firms and a gala dinner on the closing day of the fair will be held. “We want to change the perception about Pakistan at international level. Our industries need exposure. Trade is our prime concern now,” said Mithani.
Badar Expo Solutions COO and PITF organiser Zohair Naseer said that holding PITF-2017 is of great significance as almost every trade and industrial sector of Pakistan has representation in it. “Special arrangements have been made to facilitate coverage of the event by local and international media, by setting up a fully functional media centre,” he added.
The Exhibition will be open for invited delegations comprising officials from participating foreign countries and trade visitors. The fair will be open to the general public and students of colleges and universities on the last two days of the exhibition.
