SAHIWAL: The divisional administration, Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC) and the Sahiwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry have failed to identify a piece of land for the establishment of a small industrial estate (zone II) here despite a lapse of four years.

“Sahiwal has a small industrial zone on Harappa Road which is not catering to the needs of the growing manufacturers and businessmen. To accommodate the growing needs of businesses another industrial zone is required,” says Chamber President Shaikh Basharat while talking to Dawn.

The main problem is the identification of big pieces of state land spanning over 100-600 acres. The zone-II industrial estate [idea] was floated by then deputy commissioner Zaman Wattoo and local PML-N parliamentarians, led by Nadeem Kamran, in 2017.

A piece of 700-acre tract was identified at village 85/9-L on Bunga Hayat Road but it turned out to be private land.

The then commissioner, Baber Hayat, had asked the Sahiwal chamber to buy land with their own resources but the chamber showed its inability owing to paucity of funds. Later, a 637-acre tract was identified near village 86/9-L. Local businessmen and manufacturers were happy because the then director (development), Khawar Shahzad, claimed that the land had been identified, selected and soon it would be purchased. At that time, the district administration took SNGPL, Mepco and PTCL high-ups on board for provision of facilities.

Dawn learnt from sources that local traders and businessmen were so happy with the development that they deposited Rs5,000 each with PSIC for showing their intention of buying land in the industrial estate. But the project could not be materialised as revenue records showed there was a litigation regarding the transfer of state land to the Punjab government.

Sources say in year 2021 and 2022, the DC and the commissioner on the direction of PSIC regional office [off and on] wrote to the Punjab Board of Revenue (BoR) for the early disposal of the case but the matter could not be settled.

Some time back, adviser to PM on commerce and investment Abdul Razak Dawood visited the chamber and the local administration came up with another plan on March 21, 2022.

They argued that there is a litigation on 637-acre land but a 100-acre tract with Khasra No 57, 58, 60 and 61 is available and should be marked for the estate with the permission of the BoR.

PSIC Deputy Director Ms. Farzana told Dawn that nothing concrete happened so far and the matter of acquiring land is still pending.

Chamber President Shaikh Basharat has demanded that the Punjab government provide land for the industrial zone-II. “Around 1,800 businessmen are registered with the chamber and another industrial zone is the need of Sahiwal,” he said.

This correspondence met with many local industrialist who said the PSIC should arrange land for small and cottage industries in different clusters.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2022