Federal Minister Aurangzeb met with a group of industry representatives led by members of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and the Pakistan Electric Fan Manufacturers Association (PEFMA).
Aurangzeb acknowledged that the fan sector is fully indigenous, comprising around 300 manufacturers concentrated in Gujrat and Gujranwala. Members also noted their export footprint, particularly in the Middle East and Africa, while reviewing recent export trends.
The meeting aimed to identify sectoral challenges, export potential, and avenues for policy support.
Welcoming participants, the Finance Minister recalled his recent engagement with the business community at FPCCI Lahore and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to focused consultations with individual sectors to better understand their operational landscape and support growth.
The industry representatives highlighted that the fan sector is fully indigenous, comprising around 300 manufacturers concentrated in Gujrat and Gujranwala. The sector supports approximately 40,000 direct and over 150,000 indirect jobs, with a strong value-addition profile.
A key focus was the transition toward energy-efficient DC fan technology, with the industry emphasizing readiness to replace conventional fans on a large scale to reduce electricity consumption. The Finance Minister noted that while policy frameworks exist, greater traction would require enhanced awareness and improved coordination with financial institutions. He stressed that closing implementation gaps is crucial to accelerating adoption.
Access to finance for capacity expansion was also discussed, especially to meet potential demand under energy efficiency initiatives. The Finance Minister underscored the need to facilitate productive investment and indicated that financing frameworks would be reviewed to better suit sectoral requirements.
Structural and policy-related challenges were highlighted, particularly regarding raw materials like copper and aluminum. Industry members warned that rising exports of raw inputs impact domestic value-added manufacturing, calling for a balanced approach to promote local value addition.
SME liquidity matters, including tax refund processing, export facilitation mechanisms, and input tariff structures, were also deliberated. The Finance Minister emphasized ongoing reforms to rationalize costs and improve the business environment, inviting industry input for further review.
Opportunities for expanding market access and enhancing the competitiveness of electrical appliances through targeted policy support and innovation were also explored.
In his remarks, the Finance Minister stressed that sustainable export growth relies on competitiveness, scale, and policy consistency. While taxation remains important, access to finance, energy efficiency, and market development are equally critical. He encouraged ongoing dialogue between industry and government stakeholders to refine practical, forward-looking proposals.
Concluding the meeting, the Finance Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to supporting value-added manufacturing and export-oriented sectors, emphasizing that sustained dialogue with stakeholders remains central to policy formulation and economic planning.
The meeting included Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, senior officials from the Finance Division, Federal Board of Revenue, and relevant departments. Industry representation included Nabeel Ahmed Ilyas (Chairman PEFMA), M. Azhar Aslam (Chairman Export Committee PEFMA), Yesir Ihsan (Director, Pak Fans), Imad Rafiq (Director, Royal Fans), M. Faisal Afzal (CEO, Super Asia Group), and other sector representatives.
this “indigenous industry” and pioneering stealth technology shouldn’t be transferred to gcc, else everyone will have a good laugh.