Tessori is the single branded jewellery manufacturers of Pakistan, which introduced the new trend of Jewellery in the country as well as abroad. Therefore, the organiser of Brand of the Year Award has selected the Tessori for the Brand of the Year Award in their respective sector "Gem & Jewellery".
Tessori has been selected after the votes received from consumers of Jewelleries in nation-wide polling as well as Focus Group survey.
"This is a proud and great honour for Tessori as it has been awarded Brand of the Year Award" said Muhammad Akhtar Khan, Chief Executive Officer Tessori Group, Patron & Chief of All Pakistan Gem & Jewellers Association. He further appreciated the recent speech of the President, Mr Parvez Musharraf who has reiterated that Pakistan should be converted into an industrialised nation, to boost up the economy of our country by providing stability and to gear the country into improved productivity and self reliance with a vision to further bring the country into prosperity and help reduce the rising unemployment in the country.
He was of the opinion that Pakistan's current export is facing major decline in the total exports particularly Gold & Jewellery exports. There are very few exporters of Gold and these exporters who could not even contribute a minimal cost to export targets of the government due to the following reasons;
1- Gold Jewellery trade sector is still not considered as industrial sector as envisaged in the last year's Trade Policy 2006-2007.
2- The concerned Government departments including the TDAP and Customs do not facilitate the exporters in their export activities due to wrong policies implemented to this particular trade.
3- There are no special incentives, advantages or benefits extended to the exporters of the Gold Jewellery.
4- As Jewellery sector is not considered as an industry, hence, exporters of Gold Jewellery could not get any assistance from any national banks.
5- The levying of infrastructure sales tax on exports should be abolished as this one the major hurdle in exports of Gold Jewellery. Our jewellery industry already pays 0.75% income tax, 0.25% export development surcharge and this extra tax of 0.5% for infrastructure is intolerable as it is not availed by Gold exporters whose exports are just handful. This extra infrastructure tax is greatly hurting Jewellery exports which are already declining due to Gold high prices and also from the tax imposed.
There is also major decline in the import of Gold due to the imposition of 1% with holding income tax on import of Gold. The imposition of this withholding tax have encouraged smuggling of Gold resulting in the loses of revenue to the exchequer. Further, this levy is also resulting in the indulgence of genuine importer manufacturers in the purchase of smuggled Gold currently available in the market.
Mr Khan is also recipient of two businessmen of the year Award earlier. He said "We have introduced latest Gold testing laboratory first time in the history of Pakistan to make sure the availability of quality Gold to our valued customers. Other Gold related businessmen & jewellers also have availed the testing facility of the Tessori to examine the quality and variety of gold.
Tessori Group, which is the only ISO 9000 certified group in the trade, plans the expansion of outlets in Pakistan. At present it has only one branch in the country, at Karachi.
"We have provided excellence in our product quality. Our products are stamped and we fully ensure gold purity by maintaining international standards.
"Likewise, our diamonds are also internationally certified with global standards. All this has been successfully achieved due to the blessings of Almighty Allah," Mr Khan Said.
Tessori has contributed and made significant donations to a number of welfare and charity institutions in the country, including Karachi, as well as generous donations to victims of October 2005 earthquake in Northern Pakistan and flood victims in interior of Sindh Province, besides helping needy and sick people on individual basis.
It has also sponsored social & religious programs on private TV channels, co-sponsored Defence Arms Exhibitions at Karachi in the year 2003 and sponsors sports events in various cities of the country.
Among the business achievements of Akhtar Khan, a graduate (B.Com) is the former chairman of All Pakistan Gem And Jewellers Association (AMJMA) 2003-2004, in addition life member of FPCCI and SAARC.
Kamran Khan son of Akhtar khan and Director Tessori Trading company is also the recipient of five FPCCI Trophy, Medal awarded for the highest exporter performance of gold jewellery. Tessori was also awarded for the fifth time export trophy award last year. Akhtar Khan and Kamran Khan was conferred " FPCCI businessman of the year" Awarded by the president and Prime Minister of Pakistan in the year 2003-2004.