Rauf Siddiqui inaugurates MEGATECH Pakistan 2010: Abdul Rauf Siddiqui, the Minister of Industries & Commerce, Government of Sindh inaugurated the 8th Edition of the International Machinery Exhibition of Garment & Textile Technology – MEGATECH Pakistan 2010, at the Expo Centre on Thursday.
Speaking on the occasion, Rauf Siddiqui highlighted the importance of the textile industry, which is regarded as the backbone of the Pakistan’s economy. He shed light on the efforts taken by the ministry to prop up the textile and garment manufacturers.
The Guest of Honour, Idrees Ahmed said induction of modern machinery and technology is essential for Pakistani manufacturers to maintain a competitive edge in the current economic situations. He stressed that large investment is required in this sector and the government should seriously consider controlling the constant rise in yarn prices.
MEGATECH Pakistan 2010 has the participation of more than 300 companies from 29 countries. The 3rd Technical Textiles Conference is also being held in concurrence with the exhibition on 5th & 6th March, 2010. The conference will highlight the prospects related to Medical & Geotextiles.

Curbing unfair trade via ATT: vehicle tracking system under study: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is contemplating to introduce Vehicle Tracking System (VTS) to curb unfair trade being done through Afghan Transit Trade (ATT).
A committee comprising collector appraisement, collector preventive and director of Directorate General Intelligence and Investigation (DGI&I), Karachi has been constituted, which recommended the board to introduce VTS to track down the exact location of the cargoes for curbing unfair trade and smuggling of goods through ATT, the sources said.
They said the committee has also proposed to acquire services of private vehicle tracking companies to monitor the movement of the loaded vehicle from one end to the other through subscriber identity module (SIM), which would be installed in every goods carrier.
To a question, they said the board is presently weighing the pros and cons of the proposal and hoped that VTS would be introduced in a few months. They said the introduction of VTS alone could not stop smuggling and unfair trade as the goods sent to Afghanistan under ATT are again being transported to Pakistan for sale here.