ISLAMABAD, March 28: The Minister for Industries and Production, Liaquat Ali Jatoi, has said early completion of pesticide industrial policy will encourage investors to set up manufacturing facilities in the country.

The minister was presiding over a meeting of Board of Governors of Experts Advisory Cell (EAC) here on Friday.

He said the policy would ensure the availability of good quality pesticides by eliminating spurious products. Setting up of local industry would benefit the farmer community as the pesticides would be available at low prices, he added.

He said industrialization was vital for growth-led economic development as it was the key to employment generation, export promotion and poverty alleviation. The ministry and its support organizations were working in that direction, he added.

The minister also emphasize upon importance of this study on prospects of chemical industry. He desired to complete the study at the earliest.

The minister was apprised that the EAC is also working on database for scientific and analytical equipments. The minister said this database would be very useful to avoid the extra spending of funds of the industry and R&D institutes. Also the SMEs will be able to derive benefit from the data, he added.

The work done by EAC for the updation of the ‘Digest of Industrial Sectors in Pakistan’ and draft report on ‘Industrial Investment in Pakistan’ were reviewed. Moreover, the report on “Performance Evaluation of Public Sector Enterprises” was highlighted.

He directed the EAC to include Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) in its monitoring and performance evaluation system.

The status of the other ongoing studies was made known to the Board. These studies includes, “Frequently asked questions for the potential investors”, “Cost of doing business in Pakistan”, “Road-map for the Prospective Investors”. The minister advised to expedite the studies and submit the report.

He also directed the EAC to provide monthly industrial bulletin to the elected representatives on regular basis to keep them update on industrial progress in the country.

Earlier, the EAC chief, Zahid Aziz, gave a brief presentation on the performance during the last one year and the future work plan of the organization.