HYDERABAD, Jan 18: The Sindh Minister for Industry and Commerce Rauf Siddiqui has said at least Rs1 billion is required for rehabilitation and development of infrastructure in the industrial areas of the province.

Talking to reporters during an inspection visit at a water filtration plant in SITE area here on Wednesday, the minister said that President Asif Ali Zardari had been approached for funds.

Mr Siddiqui emphasised the need for maintaining law and order in the SITE areas to encourage local and foreign investment.

'Investment is not possible without a sense of security among the investors', he said.

The minister announced that an industrial zone spread on an area of 500 acres would be established in Larkana soon. Agro-industries would be set up in that zone to promote the industrial develop-ment in upper Sindh, the minister said.

He said the revenue generated from phase II of Hyderabad SITE would be spent on the development of both the SITE areas.

He said the water filtration plant, being built at a cost of Rs460 million, would start functioning by April 2012.

However, he added, that he was pressing the engineers to complete the work well ahead of time.

When asked about the demand of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement for creation of new provinces by bifurcating Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the minister said the MQM was supporting the long-standing demands of the Seraiki and Hazara people.

However, he added, that there was no question of a separate province in Sindh because there had been no such demand.-APP