January 14, 2003	Tuesday	Ziqa'ad 10, 1423

ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: Industries and Production Minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi on Monday said a countrywide survey would be conducted for sick units and the viable units would be revived.

Talking to the members of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and exhibition committee during his visit to 4th Pakistan industrial exhibition organized by the chamber at Rawalpindi, he said the prime minister had ordered revival of more and more sick units. Revival of sick units would promote investment culture, enhance industrial growth and create jobs, he added.

He said “one desk operation” would start soon at airports and sea ports to facilitate the foreign investors. He said the government would provide maximum incentives to foreign as well as local investors for setting up of industrial units.

Mr Jatoi said Rs5 billion would be spent in the first phase of the expansion plan of Pakistan Steel. He said Pakistan Steel had offloaded loans of billions of rupees recently, which was outstanding against it since long and a sale of Rs20 billion was expected during the current fiscal. “We have taken steps regarding mismanagement, over-staffing and control losses of the mills and took a decision for its expansion to modernize it.”

He said the industrial exhibition would also attract importers from Afghanistan and Central Asian States. “We are also inviting industries and trade ministers from Afghanistan to see our manufacturing products for export to the country, he maintained.—APP