PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Monday awarded 14 licences to the country’s various industrial groups to set up cement factories in the province.

Among the licensees were the Premier Enterprises, Maharaj Enterprises, Gharibwal Cement, Bestway Cement and CAD International.

Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, who was the chief guest during the special licence distribution ceremony at the CM’s House here, claimed the initiative would bring around $2.5 billion investment to the province.

He welcomed the big names of the cement industry to the province and said 44 industrial groups applied for cement manufacturing licenses and 14 of them were given the licences, while there was a likelihood of six more getting them soon.

CM insists initiative to bring $2.5bn investment to province

He said he had directed the mines and mineral development secretary to do all licence-related exercise in a transparent manner.

“No commission or kickbacks are involved in the whole process. If I learn about any irregularity, it will be canceled,” he said.

The CM said his government was committed to demonstrating to the world that all administrative affairs in the province were transparent.

He said his government had abolished the NOC condition for industrialists and was ready to extend all possible support to investors for putting money in different sectors of local economy.

Mr Khattak said the government would hold an investment road show in China next month.

KP Economic Zones Development and Management Company chairman Ghulam Dastagir, who was also in attendance, said the company was tasked with reviving economic activity in the province.

He said the government had unveiled an industrial policy showing its commitment to the industrialisation of the province.

Mr Dastagir said serious efforts were under way to facilitate investors in every possible way. “We are trying to ensure that the investors face no problem regarding lease and electric supply,” he said.

He said the government was also planning to create special economic zones in the province, where investors won’t pay income tax for around 10 years and duty on capital goods.

Mines and mineral development secretary Syed Zahirul Islam said his department was committed to carrying out all the licence-related process transparently.

He said during the process, which began on Nov 1, 2016, the department received a total of 745 applications, including those from 44 big investors.

The secretary said five big investors, who were left out, would be accommodated.

He said the government would soon launch an online application system for other investors. The secretary said for cement sectors, six blocks, including three blocks in Kohat and Dera Ismail Khan districts each, had been identified, while in other instances, investors had helped identify sites.

He said the government would continue striving to attract big investors to the province.

“The companies will be allowed to retain three sites leaving the others allotted to them,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2017