January 1, 2002	Tuesday	Shawwal 16, 1422

SIALKOT, Dec 31: Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industries Daud Ahmad president Chattah said on Monday the Sialkot chamber had taken various measures for attracting overseas Pakistanis to invest in the Sialkot Export Processing Zone.

Talking to APP here, he added that many overseas Pakistanis have showed their keen interest for investing in the SEPZ.

Daud Ahmad said that the step had been taken for making the SEPZ complete successful as well as accelerating the pace of export activities. The SCCI president disclosed that the process of allotment of plots in the zone would be accomplished next month.

He was confident that the functioning of SEPZ would open new era of foreign investment and ensure transfer of industrial technology.

He said the surgical forging of big industries of Germany, England and the US are being hand finished at Sialkot. The due attention of the government will enable Sialkot to compete with other countries like China, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore more easily, he added.

The SCCI president also said necessary arrangements were being made for the establishment of Sialkot tanneries zone, adding that at present there are 240 tanneries functioning in and around Sialkot as result of which the environment is being polluted badly.

Mr Daud said the Punjab government would provide 75 per cent interest-free loan for acquisition of land for the proposed tanneries zone, while 25 per cent expenditure would be provided by the local business community. In addition to this the SCCI is also negotiating with Untied Nation Industrial Development Organization (Unido) for installation of water treatment plant in proposed tanneries zone.—APP