KARACHI: Effluent plants to be set up in industrial estates
KARACHI, July 13: Sindh Minister for Industries, Mohammed Adil Siddiqui, has said that effluent plants will be installed in all the industrial estates for which land will be provided by the provincial government. The funds for installation of these plants will be provided by the federal government, he said while talking to APP after a meeting with President Musharraf at Governor’s House here on Wednesday.
During the meeting, the minister said that the president gave him go ahead for implementation of projects for industrial promotion in Sindh.
On his request, he claimed, the president ordered cent per cent increase in gas quota for industrial units from one million to two million cubic feet for supply to 147 industrial units in various industrial areas. The industrialists had demanded gas supply for their units in the wake of power shortage, he added.
Adil Siddiqui said that he also had the permission for installation of 16mgd effluent plant for SITE while order was also issued to Wapda to increase the power supply for industrial units in Sindh by 2000KV.
He said that two new industrial estates would be would be developed by Sindh government in Pakistan Steel and Port Qasim areas.
The minister said that he informed the president about expansion plan for Nooriabad Industrial Estate for which 5000 acres would be required which would be provided by the Board of Revenue. He said that Nooriabad Estate, to be developed into third biggest textile centre in Asia, would be provided water from Keenjhar Lake for which federal government would provide Rs690 million.
He pointed out that over two years back there were only 19 units in this estate out of which only four were functional, but now 49 units were operational there and 20 more were near completion.
He said that order had also been issued for setting up of small industries estate on 50 acres in Hyderabad, where 10 acres would be earmarked for women entrepreneurs. Besides, small industries estates were also being established in Sukkur and Nawabshah on 50 acres with allocation of 10 acres for female entrepreneurs in each estate, he added.
He said industrial estates were also being set up in Ghotki, Mithi and Naushero Feroz.
Referring to Korangi Industrial Area, he said that KATI Limited was being created following the directives of Chief Minister Arbab Rahim, on the pattern of SITE Limited, for the improvement of infrastructure.
Adil Siddiqi said that large scale opportunities existed for investment in Sindh. In this respect, he referred to continuous holding of industrial and commercial events in Karachi and said that occupancy rate in five-star hotels had reached 100 per cent mark, 65 per cent being foreigners, which was reflective of foreigner’s confidence for investment here.
Replying to a question, he said that trade with Korea last year stood at US$100 million which had increased up to US$1,000 million this year. He said that the government was striving hard to make Sindh a centre of trade and Karachi the world’s biggest commercial city.
Regarding small and cottage industries, he said that Sindh Small Industries Corporation (SSIC) was in a deficit three years back, but it had turned into a profitable venture with government measures. Under the corporation, he said, thousands of people were provided jobs through 15 small industries estates and three industrial parks.—APP
