Daily Times

At a time when the government is taking aggressive austerity measures, the Ministry of Commerce is planning to organise one more launch event of ‘Emerging Pakistan Initiative’ which has already been launched in 2017.

It seems that the ministry apparently attempting to receive praise from new government by re-launching of the same program which was already launched at the historic Mohatta Palace in Karachi by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in a luxury launch party.

The Ministry of Commerce has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) draft, on 8th of February 2019, to hire services of an event management company to organize Launch Event of Emerging Pakistan Initiative at Hazoori Bagh, Lahore in the inauguration ceremony of 2nd Edition of TEXPO 2019, a textile exhibition being organised by Trade Development Authority of Pakistan. The Inauguration Ceremony is expected to be a state level event with approximately 1,000 guests and it will be held on April, 11, 2019.

TEXPO 2019 is expected to attract major international buyers for Pakistani textile products

The RFP draft document stated the strategic objective of Emerging Pakistan is to establish a compelling image for the country and to position it favorably in order to attract trade, tourism and investment through nation branding.

Re-launching of ‘Emerging Pakistan Initiative’ is expected to cost to the national exchequer millions of rupees like the previous event which was held in Karachi.

Interestingly, Federal Secretary for Commerce Muhammad Younas Dhaga while responding to Daily Times queries regarding said issue termed it wrong information. However, the Federal Secretary, on presenting of the RFP document, said it is a clerical mistake. Dhaga said the mistake will be corrected and he also thanked this scribe for pointing out the ‘mistake’.

The strategic objective of Emerging Pakistan is to establish a compelling image for the country to attract trade, tourism and investment

According to the draft, TEXPO 2019 is expected to attract major international buyers for Pakistani textile products, importers, exporters, foreign investors, trade representatives, diplomatic missions, and leaders of chambers of commerce, ministers of commerce, government officials, members of trade Associations, top executives from multinational companies and financial institutions, professional and opinion leaders of business media. Moreover, a large number of local buyers will also be present. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Commerce Division has decided to launch the Emerging Pakistan initiative in the inauguration ceremony of TEXPO 2019, it added.

The ‘Emerging Pakistan’ first launch event consisted of an infomercial screening; highlighting Industry, tourism and culture along with picturesque landscapes and landmarks of Pakistan. This was followed by fashion presentations by notable fashion designers Nomi Ansari and Faiza Samee, musical performances by the iconic musicians and now former producers of Coke Studio, Strings and singer Momina Mustehsan.

Published in Daily Times, February 23^rd 2019.