HYDERABAD, May 7: The Sindh minister for commerce, industry, labour and transport, Mohammad Adil Siddiqui, has said the Hyderabad Site will be expanded to develop the industrial sector.

Speaking at a reception hosted by the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI) here on Tuesday, he said 300 acres, selected near the Zeal Pak Cement Factory on the Tando Mohammad Khan Road, would soon be acquired.

About the levy of taxes by the taluka council in Site area, Mr Siddiqui said this tax was also being recovered from industrialists in the Karachi Site. He said the city government was recovering taxes in the Karachi Site to the tune of Rs10 million per annum.

He, however, said this matter would be placed before the Sindh cabinet with a proposal that only the Site Limited should collect tax in Site areas.

Referring to the increase in the transfer fee of industrial plots in Hyderabad, he asked the HCCI to furnish a report in this regard. He gave an assurance that if the fee in Hyderabad was more than other industrial areas, it would be reduced.

He said work on a filter water supply scheme in Site area would be completed within a month to solve the water shortage problem. He said efforts would also be made to develop the bangle industry.