CHITRAL: Abdul Karim Khan, special assistant to the chief minister, has said that work for establishing an industrial estate in Chitral will start during the current fiscal year.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, he said that exploitation of marble, mines and minerals in the area would create a vast market of employment and bring prosperity to the region. Secretary industries Aftab Akbar Durrani and chief executive of Economic Development Zone Mohsin Syed were also present on the occasion.

Karim Khan said that the industrial zone would attract a vast investment for which the government had decided to extend a number of incentives, including payment of development charges in easy installments, provision of electricity on subsidised rates and imparting technical training to the local workers.

He said that the government would also develop an ideal environment in the industrial zone to entice investors from China while other foreign investors would also enjoy favours from the government to develop marble, mines and minerals.

The special assistant said that he foresaw a changed scenario for Chitral in near future due to the industrial estate. He said that the district would be connected with Peshawar-Islamabad segment of the motorway through a highway on which work was being launched this year.

About site of the industrial estate, he said that it could be established in Gang Gahiret near Drosh or some other place after the feasibility study.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2016