Adoption of Social Accountability-8000 (SA-8000)
In order to encourage exporters to improve quality, cater to latest consumer preferences, comply with international standards and obtain the relevant certification in this regard; the project titled “Adoption of Social Accountability-8000 (SA-8000)” has been started with effect from January, 2007. The project envisages Certification of 250 firms under SA-8000 Standards through providing subsidy as matching grant amounting maximum to Rs. 0.400 million to each selected firm to compensate their certification costs and also motivating the firms/ enterprises through conducting awareness seminars/ courses all over the country. So far certificates of 70 firms have been received. An allocation of Rs.37.040 million has been made in PSDP 2010-11 for this project.
Creation of Domestic Commerce Wing in Ministry of Commerce
The project has been designed to streamline the domestic commerce for enhancing exports by increasing competitiveness, value addition, sophistication and promoting an environment to support entrepreneurship development & consumer protection along-with protection of domestic industry. The Wing is also acting as a focal point for the ADB’s “Pilot Dialogue for Structural Transformation (PDST) Programme under their “Accelerated Economic Transformation Programme-II (AETP-II), focusing on 8 products (i.e. sectors), for increasing competitiveness in local as well as in the international market. PSDP allocation of Rs.13.170 million for FY 2010-11 has been made for this project.
Creation of Planning & Monitoring Wing in Ministry of Commerce
The project has been launched under ECNEC decision with the objective to plan, formulate, process and monitor implementation of development projects of Ministry of Commerce its attached departments, sub-ordinate offices and Corporations/ organization working under its administrative control. And being a “Co-ordinations unit” prepare, coordinate & supply information relating to development projects of the Ministry of Commerce to all concerned Ministries/ Divisions/ Departments including Planning Commission Finance Division, EAD, FA’s Organization, AGPR, etc. and liaise effectively with concerned quarters/Project Directors. An amount of Rs.7.820 million has been allocated to this project for FY 2010-11.
Construction of Building for Pakistan School of Fashion Design at Johar Town, Lahore.
The objective of this project is to construct a building for Pakistan School of fashion Design at Johar Town, Lahore (which was earlier being run in a hired building) for imparting training in fashion designing and ready-made garments with a view to boost exports. The project is at final stage of completion and over 97% work has been completed. The final completion of the project and handing over the building to PIFD Lahore is expected by end August 2010.
Purchase of Equipment, Furnishing, Curriculum Development and Training of PSFD, Lahore
The Project aims at enhancing the status of Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design (PIFD), Lahore at the level of University with the introduction of four new departments namely; (i) School of Fashion Design, (ii) School of Textile Design, (iii) School of Accessories & Product Design (Furniture, Gems & Jewellery and Footwear) and (iv) School of Fashion and Marketing Promotion for skill development in various arts to strengthen export base of the country by providing state of the art products in world market. This Institute would be affiliated with internationally renowned universities and will provide technically trained manpower for local & foreign industries. PSDP allocation of Rs. 229.236 million has been made to this project for FY 2010-11.
Trade & Transport Facilitation Project-2: Trade & Transport Facilitation Unit (TTFU).
This is a World Bank funded project and has been initiated under National Trade Corridor Improvement Programme. It aims at simplification of procedures, improve logistics and up-date various carriage of goods Acts. The project was started on 4-1-2007 with the appointment of its Project Director. Major activities to be undertaken include preparation of National Trade Facilitation Strategy, re-drafting of Pakistan-Afghanistan Transit Trade Agreement, updating logistics cost-study, study on electronic trading platform and establishing of Info Web Portal. An amount of Rs.41.155 million (all from foreign loan) has been allocated for this project under PSDP 2010-11.
Restructuring of Pakistan Institute of Trade and Development (PITAD)
In order to develop and up-grade Pakistan Institute of Trade and Development (PITAD) into a centre of excellence for training and research in international trade and commerce, a project titled “Restructuring of Pakistan Institute of Trade and Development” has been approved by the CDWP at a total cost of Rs.270.824 million. The restructured PITAD would serve as platform for Trade Policy formulation and cater for research needs of trade related Ministries as well as Pakistan’s industrial sector. Under this project, own building for PITAD and hostel will also be constructed. An amount of Rs. 137.459 million has been allocated to this project for FY 2010-11.
Programme Management Unit (PMU) for setting up of Regional Reconstruction Opportunity Zones for Trade in FATA, NWFP, Balochistan and AJK.
The Proposed PMU has been designed to lead and gear up the process forward to the establishment of ROZs’ Authority which would be mandated to implement the ROZ Programme in a transparent and sustainable manner in selected areas of FATA, NWFP, Balochistan and AJK; so as to reap the maximum benefits from the initiative and thus bring improvement in economic conditions of the people in these areas. For this project, an amount of Rs. 8.231 million from PSDP has been allocated for FY 2010-11.
Up-pgradation & Additional Works of Expo Centre at Lahore.
The project aims to set-up an Expo Centre in Lahore over an area of 400 kanals land provided by the Govt. of Punjab and will provide over 30,000 sq. meters space to the local and foreign manufacturers and traders to exhibit their products for promoting their business. Basically, four (04) Exhibition Halls and a huge state of the art Convention Center with all allied facilities will be constructed. First phase of the project has been completed on 30-4-2010.
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