KARACHI: Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto yesterday [Dec 30] said the country’s first steel plant at Karachi would have a great impact on Pakistan’s socio-economic structure and “help organise our defence potential on scientific basis”. While laying the foundation stone of the steel plant at Pipri, 22 miles north-east of Karachi, Mr Bhutto directed that the project should not suffer bureaucratic red tape. … He said setting up the country’s first steel mill had been delayed for 20 years, but with the laying of the “first brick” the story of a phenomenal procrastination … on the part of successive governments came to an end, and “a new era begins leading to the future technical maturity of our nation”.

The Prime Minister said the steel mill must now take off immediately. It must start providing the country its essential requirements in quality steel. … While describing the occasion as “memorable”, Mr Bhutto said: “I find it significant because in the midst of national problems, and against the background of an extraordinary international scene, we have today succeeded in giving a final shape to such a considerable project … initiating a concrete venture of co-operation with the USSR. …”

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2023