KOHAT, Aug 31: The government is trying to attract foreign investment and there is a need to establish tax-free industrial zones in the less-developed regions, says NWFP senior minister Sirajul Haq.

Speaking to a delegation of local businessman here on Sunday, the minister said that he would take up the subject with quarters concerned as the establishment of zones for small industries was a federal subject.

Deploring the move to revoke special incentives offered to investors at the Gadoon Amazai Industrial zone, the minister said that it had affected the growth of industry in the province.

He told the visiting businessmen that during his recent visit of UAE and Germany, he had requested Pakistanis specially those belonging to the NWFP to invest their savings in the country.

Earlier, president of the Kohat Chamber of Commerce and Industry Manzoor Ahmed Paracha stressed the need for provision of adequate staff and medicines at the two hospitals situated in the city, adding that these hospitals should be treated on par with the government hospitals.

He termed the government’s move to shift machinery worth Rs4 million from the newly-constructed KDA hospital to Peshawar unfair and called for provision of facilities like CT scan in local hospitals.

He also told the minister about unavailability of transport to the hospital, saying that the people were facing hardships in this regard.

He also called for establishment of a college and a high school for girls in the KDA township, a middle-income class locality.

The minister promised to take up the matters with the health and education departments.

Mohammad Abid Paracha, chairman of joint action committee of the business community asked the minister to ensure transparency in the tax collection system and urged him to take notice of the collection of professional tax from the poor people by the district government.

Admitting that corruption was rampant at all levels in every government department, the minister said that the people faced many problems in this regards, adding that the government was taking measures to discourage it.