HYDERABAD, Jan 25: Kotri SITE managing director has said the Sindh government has made 350 acres of land available for expansion of the industrial estate to boost investment in the area.

The SITE MD, Gul Mohammad Rind, said this at a meeting with members and office-bearers of the Kotri Association of Trade and Industry at Kotri SITE on Saturday.

He said the land would be given to genuine investors under a transparent policy and they would also be provided with necessary infrastructure so that they did not feel any difficulty while establishing industrial units.

He said the government would restore confidence of the investors by maintaining law and order. Referring to the establishment of a multinational engineering project at the SITE, he said many local and foreign investors intended to invest in the country due to investment-friendly policies of the government.

He said the trend of investment would not only increase production and export but also provide job opportunities and improve the living standard of the people.

Mr Rind said protection of environment was also being actively considered by the government and added it was the responsibility of the KATI to establish a treatment plant for safe disposal of industrial effluent.

He said the Sindh government would also extend its help in this regard after it was provided with feasibility reports in detail. Referring to problems identified by KATI acting chairman Tariq Baloch, Mr Rind announced the construction of a sports complex on the Gymkhana plot.

He said the SITE would be provided with a generator to ensure uninterrupted water supply, roads would be constructed and streetlights would be installed in the area.

Mr Baloch in his welcome speech said 27 new industrial units had been set up and 15 sick units revived in the Kotri industrial zone during the last four years.

He said due to non-availability of plots, new investors were facing difficulties in the establishment of industrial units. He demanded KATI's representation in the SITE board to resolve problems being faced by industrialists with their consultation.

Mr Baloch said middlemen's role in allotment of plots should be discouraged. He said a plot for the establishment of a treatment plant was available but the project was not implemented as the authority concerned shifted the allocated budget to another project. He demanded a special grant to set up the plant.