KARACHI, Dec 12: Industries and Production Minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi on Thursday said the government intended to set up “one desk operation” to provide facilities to local and foreign investors.

“I will get the approval of setting up the one desk operation from the cabinet in the next meeting,” he told a large gathering of businessmen and industrialists at the head office of Site Association of Industry here.

Prospective investors will find everything under one platform as previously fewer investors (usually standing in front row) had benefited from the “one window operation system”. “I assure that all the problems relating to approval of files from various departments and availability of various utilities will be resolved at the desk,” he added.

He said an investment officer of the one desk operation would accompany the investors in order to follow the movement of the files.

He said that there were certain bottlenecks being faced by businessmen and investors at various departments like KESC, Wapda, gas department, land allotment department and the CBR. “We intend to get rid of certain procedural difficulties,” he said, adding “everything related to these utility departments and the files related to these departments will be cleared in just three days after the one desk operation get underway,” Mr Jatoi said.

“We do not need any “summaries” and “files”. We will act quickly by taking a final decision and then look after its proper implementation. These are our main goals,” he said.

The minister assured the investors of early movement of their files at the ministry as he had already issued necessary instructions in this regard. “We will eliminate procedural delays, redtapism and bureaucratic hurdles,” he said, while referring to some laws of 1910 and 1940 that still exist.

“We will also provide a manual book for the investors containing guidelines about prospective investment opportunities,” he added.

Talking about power rates cut by 12 paisa, the minister said consumers would see next cut in gas rates. However, he advised the industrialists to switch over to gas. On complaints that the industries are not getting full quota of gas for captive power generation, he said he would take up the matter with the ministry concerned.

He said the chairman of Site association would be included in the advisory committee of Ministry of Industries and Production and meeting would be held after every two months.

On KESC problems, he urged the Site members to visit Islamabad so that he could arrange a meeting with Water and Power Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao.

On rationalization of tariff, Mr Jatoi said up to 60 per cent of work had been done while the rest was in the pipeline. He said trade bodies and associations would be given full time representation in the advisory committee so that healthy suggestions could be discussed ahead of budget.

On desalination plant for Site area, he assured that a feasibility report would be prepared very soon and the area will have its plant. In return, he asked the industrialists to pay some charges which they are paying as water charges to various tanker mafias.

The minister said law and order had created a lot of hindrances in attracting foreign investors. He expressed the hope that everything would come under control.

The minister was highly concerned over the rising unemployment in the country. “It is a very serious issue,” he said, adding the government is trying to encourage setting up of small and medium sized units where people could easily invest and more job avenues could be opened.

Former chairman, Site Association, Zubair Motiwalla, pointed out about revival of sick units ranging between 4000-5000.

Mr Jatoi said the government was ready to revive those units only which had gone sick owing to some economic policies and unintentionally. The government will not support those who had gone sick intentionally.

Member executive committee, Site Association, M.A. Jabbar, said the Site Association did not have any representation on Engineering Development Board (EDB) which had become as a house of few auto sectors giants like Habibs and Hondas. EDB is now a club of friends. Mr Jabbar also pointed out a discrimination that local industrialists have to pay Rs6.5 million for 1,000 KW to get power connection while other city people are paying only Rs550,000.

Chairman, Site Association of Industry, Haroon Farooqui, said KESC demanded Rs3,500 per KW as security deposits from industrialists while Wapda consumers are paying Rs500-950. He urged the minister to take up the issue with the ministry concerned. Mr Farooqui said that industrialists were also facing problems like water shortage and restricted quota of gas for captive power generation.