(21 March, 2018)
President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), President AKIA, Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain on Wednesday said Pakistan surgical instruement industry has the potential to cater need of World’s 90 percent demand, but this sector, due to lack of modern machinary and equipment and costly labour have threats from upcoming competition from China and Mexico; these countries not only have cheap labour, but also use superior technologically for innovation and better materials for manufacturing.
Mian Zahid Hussain while talking to the business community said from marketing to adoption of new technology. Marketing is a basic problem owing to a failure to develop local brands. Since 95 percent of the surgical industry operates in the SME sector, there is a need for a common facility centre to reduce the cost of production. Despite of reasonable growth in exports in the recent years this sector lacks product diversification, branding and effective marketing.
The veteran business leader said Pakistan’s Surgical Instruments are the most economical in the world coupled with unconditional guarantee of the finest quality. Pakistan has great potential to exploit the international market of surgical instruments as it has great workforce, talent, skills, resources, strengths and opportunities to make the way to success. Moreover, there is large scope of triumph in this market. Due to skilled and versatile experience the surgical instrument sector of Pakistan produces wide range of surgical products like Instruments for medical, surgical and dental, orthopedic appliances, Equipment using X-rays, alpha, beta, gamma rays, etc.
The former minister said Despite the fact that we produce an immense quantity of surgical items but still we are far behind in case of “Marketing” of our products to increase the trade round the globe. There is lack of presentation in our products in every aspect. Government must establish new training and vocational centers in Sialkot and its nearby areas e.g. Narowal, Pasrur etc. to provide requisite workforce to this industry with focus to grab the international market according to the World’s need. Branding, Marketing and access to new international market is important and need of time, for which Government needs to take immediate measures, he added.
