May 6, 2003	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 3, 1424

KARACHI, May 5: Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Liaquat Ali Khan Jatoi has said that arrangements are being made to revive Uthal Textile Mills, that would reopen 3,000 jobs.

In a function organized by the workers and citizens of Lasbela in connection with the Uthal mills’ revival on Monday, he said arrangements are also being made to revive Harnaee Textile Mills and Bolan Textile Mills.

He said revival of sick units and setting up new industries in Balochistan was among the top priorities of the government in order to boost industrialization and open new job avenues, says a press release.

New industries like apple treatment plant, date processing plants, granite processing plant, fish farming and many other projects are being set up in Balochistan, which are being executed under the auspices of Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) and Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA).

The chairman, PIDC, Zahid Hussain said the Uthal Mill, consisting of 11,000 looms and 50,000 spindles, closed down in 1983.

District Nazim Lasbela, Jam Meer Kamal Khan said that high quality cotton is now available in Khuzdar and other parts of Balochistan and there would be no difficulty in reviving the textile mill.