The Ministry of Industries and Production held the second meeting of the committee formed for the development of the Tiles Industry under the chairmanship of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan.
During the meeting, Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan thoroughly reviewed the progress reports submitted by the Tiles Industry and the Engineering Development Board. He emphasized that the Tiles Industry must not be allowed to shut down, highlighting its critical importance to the national economy.
Before 2018, a regulatory duty of 55% was imposed on tiles, which led to the annual import of tiles worth approximately 215 million US dollars. The industry currently faces severe cost disadvantages compared to major tile-producing and exporting countries in the region. The cost of production has increased by 72%, primarily due to the rising prices of natural gas and electricity.
Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan underlined the need to provide incentives to productive industries like the Tiles sector to foster growth and sustainability. He also reiterated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s clear vision to increase exports and reduce dependency on imports.
“Our industries are closing down; we must protect them and steer them toward a path of growth and development,” stated Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan.
The committee agreed on continuing efforts to address the challenges faced by the Tiles Industry and to support policies that enhance its competitiveness both domestically and internationally.
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