October 10, 2006	Tuesday	Ramazan 16, 1427

ISLAMABAD, Oct 9: The government has decided to promote small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the proposed Gwadar Industrial Estate (GIE) in Balochistan which will be mostly based on value added industries.

Official sources told Dawn on Monday that no large manufacturing industries was expected, except feasible value added industries based on imported raw materials with final products to be exported.

The GIE will be developed for the establishment of small and medium-sized value added industries targeting a large domestic and international market, opened up because of the construction of Deep Sea Gwadar Port and new and planned road linkages.

The major areas of business will be the import and export, construction, transportation, shipping, clearing and forwarding, warehouses, building material, value-added processing, repacking and trans-shipment.

The planning for the GIE will cater for various industrial uses such as small manufacturing, high-tech electronics, fabrication and assembly plants, metal and wood fabrication and assembly, PVC piping and extrusion, Re-packaging, fish processing and canning, beverages bottling, refrigerating and cold storages, textile industries, pharmaceutical industries, canvas cloth/tents and manufacturing.

The GIE has been termed as “ideal opportunity” for SMEs where the size of plots meant for industries will range between 1-5 acres. Besides, plots for amenities and public facilities will also be provided.

The allotment of plots has already started. Some of the allotees are keen to start construction to get early advantage and are anxiously waiting for the development of infrastructure.

The development of infrastructure is said to be the top priority for the Balochistan government. The most basic requirements were roads, water supply, electrification and sewerage system. The work on road construction was in the final tendering stage. The Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) will provide initial 16-mw electricity for the GIE. The final requirement will, however, be in the range of 100-120 mw. The site for grid station has been finalised in consultation with QESCO.

Water, being the most scare commodity in Balochistan on the whole, Gwadar in particular, has the highest priority.

The demand for potable water for industrial estate and industrial projects being established at Gwadar, near GIE, is in the tune of 2.5m gallons daily in the year 2008.

The demand for water largely depends on the type of industries to be installed. Whereas chemical and textile industries might have a large water demand, some value added garments and electronics industries will require very little water.

On an average demand of 1,000 gallons per (net) acre per day, the estimated water demand would be about 2.5 million gallons per day (mgd) which will increase at 10pc per annum at an average.

The requirements of irrigation of road side plantation and green areas will be largely met from the recirculation of treated sewage effluent.