KARACHI: Industries to be set up in all cities,towns: CM
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Nov 5: Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Mahar has stated that the government has chalked out a comprehensive policy to lay a network of industries in all the big and small cities in the province.
The policy, he said, would open up new avenues of employment and help check migration by rural population to urban areas.
The CM, presiding over the first meeting of the provincial Board of Investment on Wednesday at the New Sindh Secretariat, said that the government was taking all necessary steps to encourage local and foreign entrepreneurs to make investment in the province.
He said the government would soon be announcing a package of schemes and provide all essential facilities under one window operation to facilitate investment so that the province could be put to the road to progress and prosperity in the shortest possible time.
Regarding agriculture, Mr Mahar pointed out that the government was paying full attention to develop the sector and promote its different sections, including farm-based industries, livestock, poultry and fisheries. In this regard, he said, long and short term policies would be announced shortly.
“This is time to forget past mistakes and shortcomings and start afresh with open heart and join hands for the progress and prosperity of Sindh.”
Referring to the importance of law and order and availability of infrastructure in attracting investment, the CM minister recounted his government’s measures towards establishing writ of law and the steps to develop interest in entrepreneurs to make investments. More measures, he added, would be taken in this regard.
Mr Mahar pointed out that many roads had been devastated by recent rains in the province. He said a road rebuilding work on a massive scale was under way while construction of bridges and other infrastructure facilities in Karachi had been planned. He referred to the Rs29 billion grant by President Musharraf for the purpose.
He said that basic facilities would be provided in different cities, particularly Hyderabad and Sukkur, and work on different road projects, potable water schemes and power supply schemes would be expedited in consultation with the MPAs and Nazims of the concerned areas.
The chief minister also stressed the need for combined efforts by private and public sectors to resolve problems being faced by businessman community.
He recalled that Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali had announced launching of a cargo service from Hyderabad airport. He held out the assurance that the plan would materialize soon.
The chief minister promised to consider favourably the proposal of allotting 100-acre land for SITE, Hyderabad, and said that an industry-friendly policy on the pattern of that of Punjab would be given priority. Likewise, he said, industrialists and businessman community in Sukkur would also be provided facilities.
Mr Mahar said that he would undertake a detailed visit of small industrial estates in the province with view to assess the requirements for investment promotion so that more industries could be established in cities other than Karachi and Hyderabad. This, he added, would help create employment opportunities for youths of the smaller cities and towns and contain migration from rural to urban areas.
He told the meeting that he would pay a detailed visit to Hyderabad after Eidul Fitr to apprise himself of the problems being faced by the people there.
At the outset of the meeting, Finance Minister Syed Sardar Ahmad highlighted the objectives of the provincial Board of Investment. He proposed establishment of an industrial estate in every district in order to ensure progress and prosperity in a shortest possible period. The establishment of provincial BoI, he observed, was a good omen for the province. He said that it would help alleviate poverty in Sindh by promoting industrialization.
Those who attended the meeting were Chief Secretary, ACS (Development), Minister for Industries, Minister for Education, Minister for Planning and Developmen, Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Mineral Resources, Adviser on Home Affairs, City Nazim Karachi, Chairman of ABAD, President of the Chamber of Agriculture, Nazim of Sukkur and DCO of Hyderabad.
Presidents of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Siraj Qasim Taili (Karachi), Ammad Siddiqui (Hyderabad) and Khalid Mehmood Khan (Sukkur); and President of the Karachi Stock Exchange Ferozuddin Qasim, Chairman of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry Mian Zahid Hussain welcomed the setting up of the provincial BoI.
