SWABI: The main Topi-Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate Road as well as link roads in the Gadoon Estate are in bad shape.

Industrialists complain they’re struggling to transport goods to the area due to the dilapidated condition of the roads. They demand the immediate repairs on the roads, especially the four kilometers Swabi-Topi Road up to the Gadoon estate.

Former president of the defunct Gadoon Chamber of Commerce and Industry Fazal Amin told Dawn that all roads of the industrial estate were in bad condition. He said though the roads were pitted with potholes, transporters had no option but to use them. Fazal said big vehicles, especially trucks and trailers, used the roads making them even worse.

Provincial head of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association Liaquat Ali Khan said substandard material was used to build roads of the Gadoon estate by and large. He said the government should give the road repair or reconstruction contract to a builder of good repute.

“The roads should be repaired or rebuilt in such a way that they continue to be in good shape even if they’re used by big trucks and trailers,” he said.

Waqar Khan, a representative of the Gadoon Textile Mills, said during a recent meeting with local industrialist, including him, the chief minister had promised early repairs on the Gadoon-Topi Road and link roads in the industrial estate but the promise had yet to be kept. “We are sure if the chief minister will ensure the doing of the needful this year,” he said.

He said there was a need to repair or rebuild dilapidated roads on emergency basis, which would help boost activities in the industrial estate.

Also in the day, industrialists of the Gadoon estate met district police officer Sajjad Khan to discuss security situation in the area.

The Topi DSP and heads of the Gadoon Estate and Topi city police stations attended the meeting.

The participants agreed there was a need for better coordination and cooperation between the police and industrialists for better industrial activities in the area.

They said better law and order situation in the area would lead to better investment and thus, generating better employment opportunities.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2014