SWABI, Aug 6: NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah has cautioned that farmers in Gadoon Amazai may revert to poppy cultivation if some of the incentives earlier granted to the industrial estate are not restored.

The governor during a visit to Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate (GAIE) on Wednesday was accompanied by Federal Minister for Industries and Production Liaqat Jatoi and NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani.

The governor refrained himself from calling for restoration of all incentives but emphasized the need for restoring some of them in order to save the industrial estate from complete collapse where out of 450 industrial units about 400 had already been closed down.

He recalled that the GAIE was established to provide alternative sources of livelihood to the former poppy cultivators to encourage them to stop growing poppy. However, at present the Gadoon Estate was in shambles and without the restoration of some incentives it would collapse, he warned.

He conceded that the incentives granted to the GAIE in the past had been exploited by some vested interests but argued that it wasn’t wise to punish all the entrepreneurs of the industrial estate.

The governor advocated for provision of electricity and gas on concessional rates as added incentives in order to boost the estate.

He also proposed to declare the Gadoon Estate as an export procession zone, which would generate trade activities, and the financial position of the industrialists would get a boost.

Mr Jatoi assured that he would discuss the provision of electricity at subsidized rates with the federal minister for water and power and do their best to restore some of the incentives.

He said that his ministry had already prepared the summery of Gadoon estate tariff and would be put up to the prime minister in the next few days, saying that it was vital to revive some of the incentives and fulfil the pledge made with the locals about the provision of alternative source of livelihood.

Mr Jatoi said that he was well aware of the problems of the Gadoon industrialists and admitted that if the government failed to materialize its pledge of providing alternative source of livelihood then how could it prevent them from the cultivating poppy.

The minister said that he had advocated reduction in the tariff because imposition of more and more taxes and adaptation of harsh policies would not yield any positive result.

“I have already brought in the notice of President Gen Pervez Musharraf that the reduction in tariff and provision of more incentives to investors could lure them to invest in Pakistan without which it is very difficult to attain economic growth,” he claimed.

The chief minister said that strengthening of the industrial sector would provide more employment to enable people earn their livelihood with dignity and honour.

He announced that the land for the office of Gadoon Chamber of Commerce and Industry would be provided by the provincial government and the tender for the fire brigade would be issued within two-weeks.

He appealed to the federal minister to take steps for revival of some incentives of the Gadoon estate.

Earlier, Gadoon Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Tariq Majid and Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Sarwar Mohmand briefed them about the problems faced by the industrialists and they thanked the governor and chief minister for the completion of various projects in the estate.