KARACHI, May 11: Out of seven main industrial estates in Sindh, only two estates — Site Karachi and Hyderabad — have attracted a sizeable number of foreign and local investment.

A profile of seven estates, operating under Sindh Industrial Trading Estates (SITE), reveals that lack of basic facilities like water and snail pace development of infrastructure had been main reasons in keeping investors away from Sindh industrial estates. According to the data, over 150 units have become sick in these estates.

But industrialists believe that besides these problems, law and order situation in recent years particularly in urban Sindh has shaken the investors confidence.

But Managing Director, SITE Ltd, Capt (retd) Syed Hashim Raza has a different view. He said things have started improving and industrialists are acquiring plots in the estates, which they had ignored in the past.

He did not give a clear view whether industrialists will really pump in huge money to set up various units after acquiring the plots in the aftermath of bomb blast incident in Karachi on May 8, killing 15 people (11 Frenchmen and four Pakistanis).

“It is true that local investors and even everybody is worried now but on the other hand, entrepreneurs seem eager to allot plots in various estates especially Nooriabad,” he told Dawn on Saturday.

He said in just one month, SITE Ltd had allotted 250 acres to three leading industrialists including Gul Ahmed in Nooriabad and more enquiries have started pouring in since over 90 per cent distribution network for supply of gas from SSGC has completed recently.

However, Site Ltd has developed tubewells at Site, Nooriabad and presently 0.8 mgd water is being supplied against the present requirement of about 2.5 to 3 mgd. “Water supply may increase up to 5 mgd keeping in view renewed interest by local investors,” he said. A scheme for transportation of 5 mgd of water through pipeline from Keenjhar Lake to Site Nooriabad has been prepared and submitted to the Sindh government.

A total of 405 plots have been allotted in Nooriabad out of which 93 utilized and 45 are in production (textile, chemicals, food, pharmaceuticals, paints, garments and engineering). Around 35 units have become sick. A total of 13 units are under production.

He said local entrepreneurs have shown great interest in Site Super Highway Phase II, where 1,125 plots have been allotted. Its infrastructure will be completed within a year. Balloting of plot will be held in the current month.

In Site Kotri, established in

1962, out of 161 allotted plots, 124 units have been utilized and 76 units (textile, spinning, detergent, cable, cotton ginning, garments and cigarette) are in production while 48 units are sick, Hashim said.

Site Kotri has no sewage system for its industrial effluent which is presently being discharged into open drains and natural nullas treatment and ultimately discharge in agriculture lands and irrigation canal. To improve the situation, oxidation plants are required to be constructed at an appropriate cost of Rs32 million. Kotri has facilities like road network, water supply, drainage, electricity, gas and telephone, he added.

Established in 1963, Site Sukkur has a total allotted plots of 142, out of which 97 have been utilized and 45 un-utilised. Around 54 units are in production (beverages, oil and ghee mills, dates mills, poultry feed, wood work, cotton ginning and food) while 33 are sick and 10 units are under construction. It has facilities like road network, water supply, drainage, power, gas and telephone.

Site Super Highway Phase I, set up in 1983, has currently 78 units in production (garments, hosiery, engineering, chemical, pharma, cold storage, wood works and electronics) while 74 are under construction. A total of 288 plots were allotted.

Site Tando Adam, set up in 1953, has a total allotted plots of 45 out of which 14 have been utilized and 31 are under encroachment. No area is available for allotment. Most of the land is in under encroachment and allotted plots have been converted into houses.

Site Karachi is the oldest of the seven estates established in 1947. Out of total allotted plots of 2013 — around 1,801 are in production (textile, silk, chemical, food, pharma, paints, garments and engineering) and 82 are under construction.

There is virtually no area available for allotment in Site Karachi.

However, Site Karachi is facing water crisis as it receives only 6 mgd of water from the KWSB as against the demand of 15 mgd. Site Limited has developed tubewell for providing sub-soil water, and at present 2 mgd sub-soil water is being supplied to the Site industrialists through separate water distribution network. Private hydrants are also meeting the requirement of industrialists.

Encroachment problem also exists in Site Karachi. The government has allotted 4,460 acres of land to Site Ltd in 1947. About 700 acres of land are occupied by the Katchi Abadis namely Pathan Colony, Sher Shah, Bhawani Chali, Haroonabad, Gul Bai, Zia Colony and a part of Baldia Town. Some of the allotted industrial plots have also been found under encroachment causing difficulties to the allottees and problems to Site Ltd in re- location of these plots.

Established in 1950, Site Hyderabad has now 37 sick units and only five units are under construction. Around 320 units are in production (textile, spinning, textile dying, textile weaving, garments, pharma, beverages, oil and ghee, floor mills, glass works, glass bangles and food). Out of 402 allotted plots — 320 units have been utilized and number of un-utilised plots is 35.

Site Hyderabad Ltd has no sewerage system for its industrial effluent which is presently being discharged into open drains and nullas.

Site Nawabshah had been declared as special industrial zone by the federal government. Only one industry Visco Fiber is under operation out of 11 allotted plots.