ISLAMABAD, Dec 31: The government is considering declaring small industrial estate, Taxila, as an export processing zone, Punjab Small Industries Corporation’s (PSIC) regional director Malik Bashir Awan said on Monday.

Talking to the members of the small industries estate, Taxila, in Rawalpindi, he said the proposal aimed at providing a boost for the members intending to re-sell their plots on higher prices.

About 300 members participated in the meeting. Allotment orders and sale deed for the transfer of ownership were issued to those who had made full payment for the plots.

The meeting also considered the possibility of cancelling allotment of those members who had not paid the cost of the plot. The members, however, complained that the contract of civil work was politically motivated. They claimed that the contractor was neither qualified to get the contract, nor had the experience of roads’ construction and other work.

They further said the delay in carrying out the civil work occurred because of the administration of the Punjab Small Industries Corporation, for which the members could not be penalized, and they had vowed to pay the remaining amount.

The members said the PSIC administration, in violation of the Punjab governor’s instructions, did not complete the industrial estate within 18 month, and the persons responsible for the delay must be punished. They also pointed out certain financial and administrative irregularities.

The regional director told the members that the industrial estate had more than Rs8.2 million in its accounts, and was in a position to make payments to Wapda for power supply. He said the government had also sanctioned provision of sui gas to the estate.

The regional director told the members that industrial estate project was based on self-financing, and no funds would be provided by the government in this regard.