Lahore: Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has emphasized 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.
According to Press Information Department, Gilani expressed these views while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the New York Chamber of Small Business Corporation office in Lahore. The Chairman Senate 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.
The Chairman Senate 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.
He further highlighted the importance of engaging Pakistani communities and business associations abroad, particularly in the United States, which have established strong professional networks and made significant contributions in various fields. He emphasized that these connections could serve as effective platforms for promoting Pakistani products, facilitating trade, and projecting the country’s positive image internationally.
Chairman Senate also acknowledged the valuable contributions of the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA), appreciating its role in promoting healthcare, medical education, research, and humanitarian services. He noted that the Pakistani medical diaspora is playing a constructive role in strengthening Pakistan’s international linkages and projecting a positive image of the country.
The Chairman Senate also referred to his association with the Global Muslim Business Forum, headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, and expressed confidence that greater interaction and collaboration with international business networks would open new avenues for Pakistan’s economic and commercial promotion.
He stressed that Pakistan’s achievements, cultural richness, entrepreneurial potential, and positive contributions must receive greater international visibility. “We are working for peace, prosperity, and development. Pakistan is committed to moving forward from the challenges of terrorism towards playing a constructive role as a facilitator and mediator for peace and cooperation among nations,” he observed.
Chairman Senate expressed optimism that sustained engagement among business communities, international organizations, and Pakistani diaspora would further strengthen Pakistan’s global standing and create new opportunities for trade, investment, and employment.