CHITRAL: The provincial caretaker minister for industries, commerce and technical education, Dr Syed Aamer Abdullah, here on Thursday inaugurated developmental work on Chitral economic zone and industrial facilitation office in it.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony in Gang Gahiret near Drosh, he said that the project would prove a game changer in the history of Chitral. After it became fully operational, local skilled youth would not need to go outside their area in search of employment, he added.

He termed industrialisation a key source of development. He hoped that the next government would continue to facilitate industries in the province as industrialisation was the key source of development.

The minister said that the Chitral economic zone was a major development for the improvement of specific industries in the area. He pledged that its status would be upgraded to special economic zone by acquiring additional land.

On this occasion, he also gave allotment letters to various investors, who have acquired plots in zone for setting up industrial units.

Earlier, the chief executive officer of KP Economic Zones Development Authority, Javed Iqbal Khattak briefed the minister and said that Chitral economic zone, sprawling across 40 acres, was developed over a span of two years.

He said that the completed infrastructure in the zone encompassed roads, drains, water supply, retaining walls and office building. He said that the zone was specifically designed to accommodate a variety of industries, making it an ideal destination for businesses looking to thrive in the region.

The vice-president of Chitral Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Liaquat Khan, thanked the minister for his efforts to accelerate work on the economic zone and highlighted some of the issues confronted by local industrialists.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2024