LAHORE, July 14: The federal government proposes to set up a state-of-the-art tool, die and mould (TDM) centre in Orangi, Karachi, which is projected to produce tools, dies and moulds to the tune of $2.5 million per year for the domestic engineering industry. The centre, the first of its kind in the country, is being set up through a company limited by guarantee with a paid-up capital of Rs450m. The proposed centre is expected to be completed in 10 months. The new centre is projected to create at least 150 jobs.
The decision to set up the TDM Centre was taken in the last week of the last month by the Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) at a meeting of its board of directors. The meeting was chaired by federal industries and production minister Jehangir Tareen.
“The new company’s board will comprise six private sector members and two government representatives,” Technology Upgradation and Skill Development Company (TUSDEC) chairman Almas Hyder told this reporter on Wednesday.
He said the proposed TDM Centre would play a key role in the development of the engineering industry, which was growing at an exponential rate of 25-30 per cent a year. He said the growth in the engineering industry required that the TDM manufacturing industry be promoted. “If we do not promote indigenous TDM industry, the development of the engineering industry would also be stunted.”
He said the industry had imported tools, dies and moulds worth $28 million during the last fiscal year of 2004-05, which showed the gap between the demand and supply of tools, dies and mould within the country.
He said the proposed TDM Centre would produce tools, dies and moulds for the entire engineering sector — from aircraft to medical devices and appliances industry.
Currently the entire TDM industry in the country is to be found in the informal sector and employs approximately 14,000 people. However, the quality of products made by the existing tools, dies and moulds makers is said to be primitive.
Mr Hyder agreed to a suggestion that the country needed more TDM centres like the proposed one if the engineering industry was to grow at the current rate.
