PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will announce a package of incentives to boost local industries and strengthen the province’s economy. The package will include provision of cheap and uninterrupted electricity to industries to attract local and foreign investments, and privatising industrial zones.

These views were expressed by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak while presiding over a meeting regarding infrastructure development at Hattar Industrial Estate in Haripur, here on Friday.

Mr Khattak said energy crisis was the main issue facing the industries, adding that KP was producing far more electricity and gas than its domestic needs. He asked the centre to review its policy towards Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to remove the sense of deprivation and usurpation of their rights among the people of the province.

The chief minister said that it had been decided to set up four new industrial zones at important commercial points in the province, besides establishing oil refinery in southern districts.

Mr Khattak said that a plan had been prepared to set up a modern steel mill in the Hattar Industrial Estate at a total investment of Rs700 billion with a production capacity of 650,000 metric tons per year. “The mill besides catering to the province’s needs of steel will also provide job opportunities to about 35,000 people,” he added.

On the demand of the industrialists, the chief minister ordered formation of a high level committee for the revival of the sick industrial units. He said uninterrupted electricity and gas supply would be ensured to the industrial estate. Similarly, he directed early construction and repair of all roads inside the industrial complex.

Mr Khattak directed that flow of traffic on Hattar and other roads should be regulated on the pattern of the motorway. He also agreed to demands of the entrepreneurs to establish a modern hospital in the estate and provide residential facilities and dowry fund for the workers, besides setting up a medical college and other professional institutions for their children.

He also agreed to grant leases for exploration of local minerals and directed the industries and mineral development department to give priority to local industrialists in that regard.

To a demand regarding exclusion of fuel adjustment charges from electricity bills, he said the provincial government would file an appeal with the Supreme Court seeking extension of the relief not only to sick industries, but also to the poor masses of the province.

The chief minister said the provincial government had decided to meet the electricity needs of the domestic and commercial consumers separately at local levels. “The provincial energy department has chalked out a plan with focus on exploiting the hydel power potential of the northern districts, besides producing electricity through oil, gas and solar means,” he added.

Mr Khattak said his government would provide all the required facilities and guarantees to those desirous to make investment in the province so the badly affected economy of the province could be revived and maximum opportunities of employment and business could be made available to the jobless people.

The chief minister underlined the need for convening joint meetings of local industrialists, investors, representatives of chambers of commerce and high ups of concerned departments to develop partnership between the public and private sectors for reviving industries and overcoming the energy crisis.

PTI MPA from Haripur Akbar Ayub, president of Hattar Industrial Association Malik Mohammad Farid, secretary general Taj Ghani and other office bearers, advisor to CM on economic affairs and investment Rafaqatullah Babar, chairman of CM’s complaints’ cell and focal person for donors’ organisations Haji Dilroz Khan, and other concerned officials attended the meeting.