KARACHI: The Sindh government will not allow Pakistan Textile City (PTC) at Port Qasim to shift its industries somewhere else in the country and sell its 1,250 acres of land in order to repay the loan of Rs1 billion which the federal government took.

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah stated this while meeting a delegation of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Commerce and Textile comprising its chairman Mohammad Siraj Khan, Shazia Marri and others here on Friday.

The delegation informed the chief minister that their committee had recommended revival of PTC on Jan 4 this year.

Mr Shah extending support to the revival of the city observed that under a pre-planned conspiracy the PTC at Port Qasim was being destroyed so that its industry could be shifted to other parts of the country but “we will not allow this as shifting of PTC is not in the interest of the province as Sindh is going to generate 80,000 job opportunities for the people”.

Film festival inaugurated at Expo Centre

He said the federal government took a simple and unrealistic decision of liquidating the company and then selling its land to retire the loans.

“How can you (the federal government) sell the land which does not belong to you? It belongs to Sindh,” he said.

“We are ready to revive the city and pay the liability as per our 16 per cent share but rest of the liability would have to be borne by the federal government,” he added and directed Sindh chief secretary to write a letter to Barrister Zafarullah Khan, the chairman of the winding up committee, and inform him about provincial government’s decision.

He also directed the chief secretary to write a letter to Port Qasim Authority and take up the issue of illegal allotment of Sindh government’s land to different parties and leasing it out to PTC.

“They cannot lease out the land to others which is not theirs,” Mr Shah stated.

“The Sindh government will extend its complete financial support to PTC in case of proposed changes in financial and capital structure of the company,” he added.

Siraj Khan said the committee would direct PQA chairman to sit with chief secretary and secretary of the land utilisation, board of revenue, Sindh, to resolve the dispute.

The PTC project was initiated in 2004 but the actual development work started in 2007 with initial equity of Rs1.10bn. The 1,250 acres of land was provided by the Sindh government as its share.

However, the company spent Rs458.80 million on levelling and grading of land and Rs471m on construction of a 3.2km-long pipeline which now requires Rs1.5bn more for completion. The company has accrued liability of Rs2.4bn.

With the view to this factual position, the prime minister approved winding up of the company after due process and directed to constitute a committee to furnish its recommendations for further steps.

World Bank mission calls on CM

The chief minister, who received a World Bank mission led by Sameera Maziad Al Tuwaijri at the CM house, said human development was the key to accelerate economic growth.

The mission, which visited Sindh from Feb 19 to 23 to explore options for improving population outcomes in the province, appreciated high political commitment in Sindh for human development, especially in terms of implementing Pakistan’s international commitment on family planning 2020.

It also visited the Aga Khan University and some NGOs to assess their roles in the population sector.

Film festival begins

Earlier, the chief minister inaugurated a four-day film festival titled Karachi Sub Ka — Asia Peace Film Festival at the Expo Centre.

Over 50 countries are taking part in the festival in which more than 109 movies will be screened.

The festival, organised by the Sindh culture department in collaboration with the information department and Asia Peace Festival, will continue till Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Shah said his government was organising film festivals to promote films in the country as it had become a provincial subject after the 18th Amendment.

Terming the theme of the festival “Karachi sub ka” as an inspiring and appealing one, he said, “No doubt, Karachi being a moderate and multicultural city belongs to everyone.”

He added, “The provincial government will continue its efforts for promotion of films and restoration of cinema industry in the province.”

Hakim Said Road

The Sindh government has named a newly-constructed road from Surjani to Madinatul Hikmat as Hakim Mohammad Said Road.

Mr Shah made the announcement while inaugurating the road, a press release issued on Friday said.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2018