Naveed Ahmad Khan
Islamabad:The ICEE 2021 Exhibition (Interior Construction, Electrical and Electronics) being organized by the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) was inaugurated by Chairman Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority) General (retd) Anwar Ali Haider at Pak-China Friendship center Islamabad here on Saturday.
Chairman General (retd) Anwar Ali Haider while talking to media persons on the occasion said the Construction package launched in 2020 has brought a boom in Industry. Special instructions have been issued to the State Bank
of Pakistan (SBP) to facilitate the construction of low cost houses. So far applications of loan amounting 345 billion has been received, out of which 46 billion applications have been approved. A master plan for the major cities has been launched across the country.
The Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce deserves appreciation on the successful organization of the exhibition. There is a close link between industry and construction. A year and a half ago, Pakistan faced an economic crisis due to COVID-19. The Prime Minister made a difficult decision that the construction industries would be revived.
On the occasion, Chamber President Nasir Mirza said that the purpose of the exhibition was to promote the construction and other related industries such as Interior Construction, Electrical and Electronics. Under the Clean and Green Vision, the housing sector needs to be made accessible to the low-income group, he added. Pakistan needs more than 10 million homes. He suggested introducing a one page application Form to facilitate loans from banks, and urged that the interest rate on the loan should be one or two percent.
Group leader Sohail Altaf said that the economy could be strengthened only by promoting the industry. Chairman Expo Usman Ayub said that more than 25 stalls of construction and allied industries like Interior, Electrical and Electronics have been set up in the exhibition. A food court and a musical evening have also been arranged for the exhibition. The three-day exhibition is being held at the Pak-China Friendship Center in Islamabad and will continue till August 2.