Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has stressed the need to enhance international awareness and promotion of Pakistan’s traditional products, cultural heritage and skilled workforce, highlighting the country’s immense potential for exports, trade and global economic engagement.
He expressed these views while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the New York Chamber of Small Business Corporation office here on Friday.
The Senate chairman congratulated the management on the inauguration and appreciated the initiative aimed at strengthening business linkages and promoting Pakistan’s commercial outreach at the international level. He observed that Pakistan possesses enormous potential in traditional products and skilled human resources that can be effectively introduced to international markets.
He highlighted the country’s traditional crafts, including embroidery, blue pottery, ceramics, khussa, Sindhi Ajrak and the traditional Ajrak of the Saraiki region.
He noted that these products reflect Pakistan’s rich cultural identity and offer considerable opportunities for exports and international branding. He particularly emphasized the potential of Ajrak-based garments, including shirts, as successfully demonstrated by other countries in promoting their traditional textiles.
Referring to Multan as one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, with a history spanning over 5,000 years, he underscored its rich cultural heritage and compared its historical significance with that of Damascus.
He said that Multan’s blue pottery, ceramics and traditional craftsmanship deserve greater international recognition and promotion.
Chairman Senate also stressed the importance of developing a skilled workforce capable of meeting international market demands. He observed that Pakistan’s youth could play a significant role in the global employment market, particularly in fields requiring technical, professional and software-related skills.
Effective skills development and international exposure, he said, could create valuable opportunities for young Pakistanis to serve abroad and contribute to the country’s economy.—APP
