HARIPUR: The consumer protection and commercial disputes court has directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zones Development and Management Company (KPEZDMC) to prepare a detailed report of the industrial activities, including taxation, employment and functional and non-functional units at the Hattar Economic Zone (HEZ) and submit the same within two months.

According to the court order, a commercial dispute was transferred from civil court to Consumer Protection and Commercial Disputes Court, Haripur, under section 2(1) D of the Commercial Dispute Act, 2022, in February 2023, wherein the plaintiff had prayed that he was the lessee of 25/26 acres of land leased to him for 99 years vide lease No 1265 registered and attested on June 19, 2008, and after obtaining possession of the plot he partially constructed the building and installed machinery and equipment. But the defendants, despite repeated demands failed to provide infrastructure meant for industrial activity like road, electricity and gas.

However, against all odds, the plaintiff claimed his industry started business and remained operational for three years, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic the industrial activity came to halt.

However, as per written statement from the defendants, the lessee had violated the lease agreement and failed to operationalise the industrial activity within the stipulated time as per agreement and plaintiff was bound to vacate the plot he was allotted.

Judge consumer protection and commercial disputes court Muneera Abbasi, after hearing arguments and perusal of the record dismissed the suit on April 1 with direction to HEZ’s management to submit a detailed report within 60 days by informing the DG and secretary industries and chief secretary KP.

As per court’s direction, the manager Estate HEZ must check the registration of all firms/industries of HEZ as per relevant laws and NOCs as well as other permissions required for running and enhancement of industrial units, verify the substantial investment, machinery (if imported) installed in each unit, sources of electricity installations, solar panels, provision of employment to workers, operationalisation of industry on the plot leased out to a lessee.

The order directed the manager to vigilantly inspect and check the record relating to employment, tax paid, equipment and machinery installed, utility bills paid, identify the improvements, additions, incremental level of consumption of energy, increase in the number of workers employed and increase in the production of industry.

Aziz Ahmed Khan Advocate represented the HEZ management, while Ilyas Khan Advocate appeared on behalf of the plaintiff.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2024