KARACHI, March 20: The work on Steel Billets Plant, a joint venture of Al-Tuwairiqi Group of Industries from Saudi Arabia and Pak-Kuwait Investment Company (PKIC) and having an initial production capacity 1,000 tons, will start in the middle of April 2004.

The ground-breaking ceremony of this project will be performed by a VVIP, Industries and Production Minister Laiquat Ali Jatoi told reporters after presiding over a meeting of the steering committee on the steel plant at the PIDC House here on Saturday.

The plant was being set up near Pakistan Steel Industrial Complex, Bin Qasim. The steering committee reviewed the progress made in this regard and thoroughly discussed the issues concerned.

The minister assured Tariq Barlas of Al-Tuwairiqi of providing all infrastructure and facilities, including smooth supply of water and gas for smooth operation of the plant.

The meeting was attended by industries & production secretary, chairmen of EPB, Board of Investment, Pakistan Steel, PIDC and representatives of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, Sui Southern Gas Pipeline Limited, Karachi Electric Supply Corporation, the Port Qasim Authority and Wapda as well as Al-Tuwairiqi Group vice-chairman Tariq Barlas and Pak-Kuwait Investment Corporation managing director Zaigham Mahmood Rizvi.-APP