RAWALPINDI, Aug 5: The City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR) on Monday finalised 1,030 kanals of land near Gujar Khan where all small and medium industrial units in residential areas would be shifted.

A proposal in this regard would be presented for approval before the Punjab government by Commissioner Khalid Masood on Tuesday.

Before finalising the land, Additional District Collector (General) Mohammad Ali Randhawa and representatives of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) visited the site.

Shifting small industrial units was proposed last year when former district coordination officer (DCO), Saqib Zafar, tried to shift the industries outside the city but was unable to do so as no suitable land was available.

On October 10, 2012, on Mr Zafar’s directions, a survey was conducted which found that almost 100 unregistered factories were located in the thickly-populated areas of the city, including Khayaban-i-Sir Syed, Bangash Colony, Dhoke Dalal, and Bagh Sardaran.These small scale factories manufactured goods using harmful chemicals and other inflammable material.

The report said the shortage of fire-fighting equipment in these factories dramatically increased the risk of fire incidents, especially as they were located in residential areas. The factories also lacked proper security arrangements, it added.

Furthermore, the report maintained that there were 38 registered factories in the city and 29 registered ones in the cantonment areas. These units also lacked fire safety equipment or had defective systems.

Taking notice of the situation, the DCO had tried to find land where an industrial estate could be established, but no such land was vacant in or around the city. Furthermore, the CDGR lacked funds for the purchase of private land.

Therefore, the CDGR wrote a letter to the provincial government in November, 2012, asking for a suitable land.

In July, 2013, the Punjab government asked the local government to examine the land which belonged to the small industries department near Gujar Khan.

The commissioner then sent officials to visit the area, and the traders’ representatives (RCCI) finally approved the land on Monday.

“We finalised the space for the establishment of an industrial estate near Gujar Khan and the proposal will be sent to the Punjab government for the final consent,” said Mr Randhawa while talking to Dawn.