October 26, 2002	Saturday	Sha’aban 19,1423

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

GILGIT, Oct 25: Investors during the “Conference on Investment and Tourism Promotion in Northern Areas, have shown keen interest in the infrastructure development in the Northern Areas.

A London-based Pakistani investor said that he would establish a polytechnic institute in Gilgit for which the Northern Areas administration would provide land.

Representatives of a Chinese firm showed its intent to set up a cement factory in Northern Areas for which the required raw material was available in abundance.

Another Chinese firm showed its interest to set up a lapidary for finishing and cutting of gemstones.

Similarly, a third Chinese firm said that it would invest in hydropower generation in the region.

The investors however sought more information regarding the investment opportunities.

TRADERS: Three traders have reportedly seized the Customs office in Sust for not clearing their imported goods, sources told Dawn on Friday.

Shaber Wali, Sher Ahmed, and Ashfaq had booked three containers of goods from China but were held at the Sust check post by the Customs officials.

The sources said that the traders were ready to pay Rs250,000 per container as the Customs tariff but the officials had refused to accept it, over which they seized the office by force.

Customs sources said that the amount offered by the traders was much below than the real tariff and the officials had refused to give clearance.

The sources maintained that traders were reluctant to vacate the office and demanded to hold talks with the Army officials posted at the Customs check post. But the Army official was not around to hold any negotiations with the alleged captors.