HYDERABAD: Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar has said that federal government will extend cooperation for the development of the second largest industrial hub of Sindh and development package for Hyderabad would be announced soon.

Industrial development was the only solution to economic challenges confronting the government, said the federal minister while talking to a delegation of Hyderabad SITE Association of Trade and Industry (HSATI) at a luncheon here on Saturday.

He said that industrial development would not only increase revenue but would also help overcome unemployment. The federal government had demonstrated special interest in industrial sector since day one in power as it believed a healthy and burgeoning industrial sector was inevitable for progress and general wellbeing of society, he said.

He assured the delegation led by the association’s chairman Pervez Faheem Noorwala that the federal government would continue to work for the development of Hyderabad.

Mr Noorwala and members of the delegation, senior vice chairman Mohammad Shahid Soomro, vice chairman Mehmood Ahmed and former chairmen Aslam Bawani, Saman Mal, Amir Shahab and Shahid Qaimkhani, apprised the minister of the issues being faced by industrialists in Hyderabad SITE and said that infrastructure in the industrial area was in a shabby state.

Sewerage system laid decades ago was crumbling, roads had developed potholes and water supply connection to the SITE area had been cut off over non-payment of dues by the SITE department, which had added to hardships for industrial units, they said.

The minister assured the delegation that all the issues would be addressed on a priority basis.

About the Karachi development package, he said that five mega projects had been initiated with single objective to facilitate people of Karachi.

He said the government would extend full cooperation for the development of the second largest industrial hub of the province in line with vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The government would soon announce a development package for Hyderabad, he said.

Minister vows to reopen airport

Meanwhile, a delegation of Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry led by its president Saleemuddin Qureshi also met the minister at the luncheon.

According to a press release issued by the chamber, the minister promised that business community would be granted exemptions in taxes and provided loans on easy installment for small and medium enterprises. He assured them that the government would also consider reopening airport in Hyderabad.

The chamber’s president discussed problems being faced by business community, including reconstruction of Hyderabad railway station, upgradation of civic infrastructure, reopening of airport and development package for Hyderabad, representation of small chamber in the board of governors of Hyderabad Electric Supply Company.

The chamber’s senior vice president Altaf Memon and other office-bearers Doulat Ram Lohana, Akram Ansari and Mohammad Fahad were part of the delegation.

Later, the minister addressed a gathering of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf activists where he said that how could Nawaz Sharif, who was a proclaimed offender, raise questions over chief of Pakistan’s army.

He said that those who had staged a farce at Quaid-i-Azam’s mausoleum should tender an apology to nation, otherwise, masses would chase them everywhere they went.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2020