KARACHI, July 17: Minister for Communications Senator Babar Khan Ghauri on Saturday inaugurated first low cost industrial scheme for overseas Pakistanis that would be completed in 12 to 18 months.

Speaking at foundation laying ceremony of 'Al-Watan Industrial Zone' being developed by the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) at its Eastern Industrial zone on 300 acres of land the minister said that the scheme should be transparent and in case of any complaint of corruption, stern action would be taken against culprit.

The objective of the scheme, he said, was to provide a piece of land to overseas Pakistanis belonging to low and middle income groups.

He said after 9/11 many Pakistanis started feeling insecure in the West and wanted to come back, but in absence of any opportunity and guidance they deferred the return.

Looking at such development the minister said the President Pervez Musharraf worked out the scheme. On the occasion the minister declared that no ground rent would be charged unless entire development work was completed.

He said the first balloting was held on June 26, 2004, for which 90 applications were received and plot numbers were allocated to them applicants. On second balloting the total number went to 178.

The communication minister Babar Khan Ghauri assured that the scheme will not be allowed to become another 'Mehran Town' where overseas Pakistani did not get any thing for their hard earned money they paid for land in early 70s."We want to restore the confidence of overseas Pakistan," the minister asserted.

Earlier, in his address of welcome, the chairman, Port Qasim Authority, Vice Admiral TM Khattak said the PQA was not involved in port and shipping activity only but was also striving hard for industrial development of the country.