September 20, 2002	Friday	Rajab 12, 1423

ISLAMABAD, Sept 19: Commerce Minister Abdul Razak Dawood has said that provinces must play their role in attracting investment and putting the country on industrial high roads.

He was presiding over a review meeting of Provincial Committees on Investment (PCOI) in the office of Board of Investment (BoI), here on Thursday.

He stressed the need for making all endeavours for increasing investment and industrialization as without these steps the country will not bear fruit till the provinces are made the launching pad for this activity.

The meeting took stock of various matters relating to establishment of Export Processing Zones (EPZ)/Industrial Estates in various cities, privatization of provincial assets, functioning of rail/road transport and introducing the culture of cluster parks.

The meeting was attended by Chairman BoI Waseem Haqqie, Federal Secretary Industries Dr Muhammad Akram Shaikh, Industries Ministers of Punjab NWFP, Balochistan and Secretary Industries for Sindh.

Dawood said that in past the role of provincial industrial departments has shrunk to a dangerous level. This government, being fully aware of their role, passed an ordinance in October 2000 for larger integration of provincial industrial outlooks with federal setups, to provide sound footing for their expansion and consolidation.

He said that provinces had been asked to develop at least two industrial estates where 50 per cent vacant plots must be made available equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, to attract foreign investment.

It was, therefore, imperative on the part of provinces to coordinate with BoI, Wapda, PTCL and other agencies before planning for new industrial states. This, Razak said, will eradicate the businessmen frustrations and will facilitate one window operation.

Chairman BoI Waseem Haqqie termed these review meetings very fruitful for better integration and centre-provinces harmony. He was of the view that provincial industrial departments are the right forums to identify their products for better marketing in the world, whereas BoI will being hands in glove to provide all necessary support.

He highlighted the benefits accrued through BoI website which has been transformed into one window and asked the provinces to develop their own websites. Through modern information exchange system, the provinces can further improve interaction and can also export the concept of cluster parks.

Punjab Industries Minister Tariq Hameed said that the work on Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sambrial, Lahore and Faisalabad export processing zones is in full swing.

He said that industrial data of 34 districts have been compiled and of others is in hand. He appreciated the BoI efforts for providing helping hand in promoting industrial activities in the province.

NWFP Industries Minister said that he would welcome the policy of cluster parks in gems and jewellery and in marble industry. He further said 200 acres is being developed into an industrial site near Malakand.

Balochistan Industries Minister informed the meeting that three industrial zones have come up in the province — Dera Murad Jamali, Quetta and Lasbela — but the infrastructure work is not complete as yet.

Secretary Industries Sindh gave a detailed presentation about the performance of his province in industrial sector. He appreciated the government decision for approving Lakhra Coal Mines for privatization. He requested for federal govt permission in importing CKD duty free buses for urban transport to which he was told that the SRO has been duly amended and import of CKD duty free buses is allowed to all the provinces.

In his concluding remarks, Dawood said that “Explosive Act” is being updated to which inputs from all the provinces will be welcomed. He said centre will work as facilitator to provinces whereas they must act as good “salesman”. He said that Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) will also support the cluster park culture by making the training facilities available.