06 February 2004	Friday	14 Zilhaj 1424

DADU, Feb 5: Federal Minister for Industries and Production Liaquat Ali Jatoi has said the government is establishing a textile city in Karachi where 80,000 jobs will be provided to people.

Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday at the residence of the Nazim UC Phulji village, he said the government was paying attention to industrial sector and the foreign investment was coming in to establish various industries in the country.

The industrial sector, the minister said, had enhanced the export of electronics and other items to the Middle East countries. Pakistan would also help establish different industries in Iraq, he said.

He said the industrial growth was increasing and it had reached at 11.47 per cent during the current year. In the present situation, he said, the export of Pakistan had reached $12 billion. He told newsmen his ministry would announce an export package soon.

The minister told newsmen that the German government had agreed to invest in Pakistan and within a week a German company would start its work for the pipes of oil, water, gas, etc., with a cost of $15 million. He said the Saudi government would invest $100 million in Pakistan Steel, which had returned a Rs10 billion loan to banks during the current year. The loan was scheduled to be paid by 2012.

He said the industrial sector of Pakistan had achieved this enhanced growth through the policies adopted by President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

About the project of Gwadar port, he said it would be completed by 2005.

He said the multinational companies working in the field of oil and gas of the country had been directed to provide facilities and jobs to local people.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali had taken note of the unemployment situation in the BHP, ENI Pakistan, Tekino areas. These companies, he said, would start development schemes according to their agreement with the government.