SIALKOT, Oct 6: Provincial Industries Minister Ajmal Cheema said on Monday that Rs5 billion had been allocated during the current fiscal for new industrial projects and ensuring missing facilities in various small industrial estates.

He was speaking at a meeting of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry members, labour leaders and workers.

The minister said under the new industrial policy, special attention had been given to create healthy relations between the employers and the employees for ensuring smooth business activities.

He said so far Rs1 billion had been provided to the people for setting up new industrial projects. The government had developed a business-friendly atmosphere aimed at bringing an industrial revolution, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, labour and human resources minister Akhtar Husain said the local social security office had been upgraded to social security directorate besides announcing to depute a permanent district labour officer in Sialkot.

He said arrangements had also been finalized for setting up a labour complex in each industrial town.

He said in order to provide accommodation facilities to industrial workers, another housing colony would soon be constructed in Sialkot.

Work on a 100-bed hospital would be started soon enabling the industrial workers to avail modern health facilities. Such hospitals would also be established in Gujrat, Sheikhupura and Kasur districts during the current fiscal, he said.

The minister said the Sialkot-Wazirabad Road, Sialkot-Kingra Road and Zafarwal-Badiana Road would be constructed soon at a cost of Rs1.20 billion.