KARACHI: Three-day GTex International B2B Textile Machinery Brand Expo concluded with $18 million confirmed deals at Expo Centre Karachi on Sunday. The event organized by Global Enterprise. Sindh Minister for Transport Syed Nasir Hussain Shah was the chief guest at the closing ceremony. Global Enterprise Chief Executive Officer Mujib R Siddiqi, Director Sohail Aziz, General Manager Ghousia, Zohaib Siddiqi and Naeemuddin of the United Machinery were also present. Talking to media, Nasir Hussain Shah said that the textile sector was being ignored in Pakistan since many years and the federal government should immediately support this sector. “Textile exports in 2013 were upto $25 billion which had to be increased but it is on decline. The exporters are unable to compete in international market due to heavy electricity bills and other input costs,” he said. He said that such expos should be held on regular basis to boost business opportunities. He also said that the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) should solve issue of refund to exporters which is about 250 billion rupees. About unpleasant incident occurred in the Sindh Assembly few days back, the minister said that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto has already taken strict action in this regard. He said that the provincial lawmaker was equally respectable for all and no such incident should be reoccurred. Speaking about Karachi mayor’s allegations against the Sindh government, he disagreed that the mayor has no powers. “He (mayor) has many powers and should utilise those first. This is not true that Sindh government is not supporting,” he argued. “We want to keep a balance of power. Mayor Wasim Akhtar is very friendly and Sindh government supports him and his team. We are providing five crore rupees every month while all development schemes are also being implemented under the provincial ADP. The Karachi Municipal Corporation has just to look after water and cleanliness of city,” he said. Later, the minister visited EPZA Stall where an officer briefed him regarding the motive of launching the KEPZ Phase-III extension and also providing the promotional facilities to their investors of the Karachi Export Processing Zone. He appreciated efforts of the EPZA towards increasing the exports to earn foreign exchange as well as helping to build a good image of Pakistan in at the international level. Talking to media persons, Global Enterprise CEO Mujib R Siddiqi termed the GTex expo as successful, saying that $18 million business deals have been materialised and much more were in the pipeline. “This event provided a great business opportunity to importers and exporters,” he said., adding that GTex is the largest and the most successful expo of its kind in the region in which all the leading international brands from textile, garments, leather, digital printing, embroidery machinery, accessories, chemical, dyes and energy sectors are participating. The leading brands displayed the latest innovations from various countries including China, Japan, Australia, Taiwan, Italy, Turkey, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, Netherlands, Czech Republic, India, Hong Kong, France, Austria, Iran, South Korea, Ireland, Malaysia, Belgium, UK, US, Singapore etc with more than 670 major partner brands. Few of major brands were Al Amin Industries, Nazer Group, CHT Pakistan, Madhani Associates, Humble Embriodery and Taji Maan.