KARACHI, July 31: The Sindh government would impose a ban on sale and purchase of industrial plots and is planning strict action against those, who acquire a plot for industrial purpose, and later sell it without setting an industry.

This was stated by Sindh Minister for Industries and Commerce Rauf Siddiqui while speaking at a press conference in his office on Thursday.

He said people indulging in the sale of industrial plots were a stumbling block in industrial development of the province. About owners not building industry on the plot obtained for the purpose, the minister said that monthly fine would be imposed on them and rent of the plot would be increased manifold, if they fail to set up an industry within the stipulated period allowed under the terms of allotment.

In future, all alottees of industrial plots would be required to submit an affidavit to the effect that they would establish industrial units on the said plots.

He said that the government has also decided to deal with encroachers in industrial estate with an iron hand and the site engineer and his staff would be made responsible for such encroachment.

In order to maintain a genuine record of industrial units, management of industrial zones have asked to computerise record of all industrial plots and units in their zones within 48 days.

The minister pointed out that some unscrupulous elements have eliminated record of plots in many industrial zones to escape from the government action.

Rauf Siddiqui said that 300 acres has been acquired to expand the Hyderabad industrial estate and development work has been taken in hand. Allotment of plots to the genuine people will start after two weeks.

About the project of supplying water to industrial units in Nooriabad industrial estate at a cost of Rs1.2 billion, he said that funds for the project have been released and work would start after Aug 15.

An artisan colony in Mitthi, Tharparker, has been completed which provides shops as well as houses to artisans, mainly women. A similar colony will be set up in Hyderabad for which applications for allotment would be invited through banks.

Four major industrial estates in Karachi, namely Orangi, Landhi, Federal B Area and North Karachi have each been sanctioned Rs250 million for development of infrastructure.

The minister said that to encourage cottage industry, private sector would be asked to set up handcraft units at their factories to give a chance to foreign buyers to have a glimpse.