KOHAT: The representatives of Kohat Industrial Estate have asked the authorities to provide security to factories and investors.

The district police officer, Mohammad Umer Khan, tasked ASP Talha Arif to meet factory owners and chalk out a security plan to remove concerns of industrialists and investors.

Kohat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and owners of factories in KIE criticised incidents of theft in the area. They also sought a new building for KIE and separate offices for KCCI.

They said that construction material, iron rods, gas cylinders and other items were stolen by unidentified thieves. They said that incidents of mobile phone snatching were also common in the area.

The office-bearers of KIE had called on MNA Sheharyar Afridi, the provincial law minister, and deputy commissioner, the other day to inform of their concerns regarding security.

They said that the industrial estate had been abandoned for 32 years. They said that they were feeling unsafe to keep their industrial units operational.

The lawmakers asked the DPO to meet the industrialists and find a lasting solution to the problem. He sent a team comprising ASP Talha Arif and SHO Asif Hayat, assistant sub-inspector Hamid, and other officials to meet the KIE unit owners and address their problems related to security. The officials of the small industrial development board also listened to their complaints.

They assured the factory owners of their cooperation and asked police to regularly patrol the area. They also stressed the need for installation of CCTV cameras ine and outside the industrial units.

Former vice president of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Rasheed Paracha, Moheet Khattak, Faheemullah, Jaffar Khan, retired Col Jawad Parcaha, Eng Syed Faiq Shah and others thanked police for their response.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2024