PESHAWAR, Jan 13: NWFP governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah has urged the NWFP's trade and business community to play a proactive role by taking advantage of the vast export and investment opportunities in Afghanistan and within the province.

"The NWFP industrialists should adopt a bold attitude ... otherwise, the situation is not likely to change," said the governor while speaking at the launching ceremony of the Industrial and Trade Advisory Cell, set up at the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The NWFP traders should have no problems in making inroads in Afghanistan, adding the situation was bleak as businessmen from other countries had already captured much of the Afghan markets."Our businessmen have a tendency of playing safe but with this attitude, improvement cannot be expected as there is cut- throat competition," said the governor.

The governor said the government should stop running industries rife with corruption, inefficiency and a much costly affair. Instead, he said, the government should concentrate on performing three major roles, i.e. formulating good policies, facilitating the private sector and creating regulatory framework, engendering fairplay.

He said the private sector should take the initiative by forming a consortium, develop links with foreign investors to set up small hydel power generation units in the province benefiting the industrial sector. He added the province's private sector should come forward for distributing gas from Gurguray.

"You should take the initiative and set up gas-run industries in areas close to Gurguray gas fields," said the governor. Appreciating the SCCI's efforts regarding the establishment of the industrial trade advisory cell, Mr Shah expressed the hope that it would help promote trade and industries.