December 3, 2003	Wednesday	Shawwal 8, 1424

KARACHI, Dec 2: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad has set up two committees namely “existing infrastructure committee” and “cost of doing business in Karachi.”

The committees were set up during a meeting of Advisory Committee on Industrial Sector, held under the chairmanship of Dr Ebad at the Governor House on Monday, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) president Siraj Kassam Teli, who was also present in the meeting, said on Tuesday.

In a press release, he said that the existing infrastructure committee headed by Brig Akhtar Zamin, Principal Secretary to Governor of Sindh, would consist of the following members: Raja Abbas, Secretary, Labour, Industries, Government of Sindh; Arif Ellahi, Director General, Board of Investment, Government of Pakistan; Mir Hussain Ali, DCO; Mohammad Yamin Khan, DIG (Traffic) and Chairmen of five Town Associations.

He added that this committee, which would meet on weekly basis, would focus primarily on infrastructure in the city, including telephones, roads, electricity and water. The committee would take stock of existing infrastructure facilities and ensure immediate repair on war-footing and reconstruction of roads and availability of electricity and water.

At the same time, the availability of telephone connections to the businessmen and industrialists with improved services would also fall within the jurisdiction of this committee, he added.

He said the main task of this committee would be re-activating the role of the agencies concerned by holding its weekly meetings.

The KCCI chief further said that the other committee relating cost of dealing business in Karachi would consist of Raja Abbas, Secretary, Industries, Government of Sindh (Convener); M. Zubair Motiwala, former KCCI chief and Arif Ellahi. This committee would make comparative studies of the cost of doing business in Karachi as well as other cities in the country.

It would also make comparison of the cost of doing business in Karachi vis-a-vis other cities in the neighbour countries and would make appropriate recommendations to the Government of Sindh, so that in the light thereof, necessary steps are taken to facilitate doing business in Karachi.