Sindh Minister for Industries and Commerce, Abdul Rauf Siddiqui has said that the government will allocate 100 acres each, land for developing agro based industries, in Hyderabad Sukkur, and Nawab Shah. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) annual exhibition 'My Karachi-Oasis of Harmony' here on Friday.
He said that the government has decided to exempt industries, establish in these industrial estates, from all provincial taxes for ten years. The minister said that the provincial government would also approach the federal government to exempt these industrial estates from federal taxes for ten year.
Rauf informed that the industries department is preparing a power-based industrial policy, which would be announced soon. Referring to the economic crisis, he said the country was facing some economic problems, which are temporary in nature, and assured that these would be resolved soon.
Sindh Minister for Information Technology Mohammed Raza Haroon said that the government was considering making IT subjects compulsory from primary level. He said that the government intends to persuade foreign investors to come forward and invest in this sector in a big way.
He said that Pakistan is still behind in IT sector as compared to many countries of the world, and added that plans have been made to improve this sector. Inaugurating the exhibition, Sindh Minister for Public Health and Engineering, Adil Siddiqui, said that in 2004, the KCCI had initiated the holding of the exhibition 'My Karachi' with its theme of 'Oasis of Harmony' to rehabilitate, restore and uplift the image of Karachi in general and Pakistan in particular and to promote trade. Now it has become an annual event of the chamber.
He recalled the period when he was minister of industries. He said he had made efforts to boost industrialisation in the province and provide better infrastructure for this purpose. A former KCCI president, Siraj Kassam Teli, said that the business and industrial community is expecting difficult times economically as currently crude oil prices are now at 123 dollars per barrel which will have to be passed on in the petroleum prices and that will have a very high and negative impact on the already unaffordable prices of every commodity, logistics, food items, and of course industry.
He said the imports of Pakistan have grown at double the speed of exports, raising trade deficit to 16 billion dollars. Welcoming the guests, KCCI President Shamim Ahmed Shamsi said that the vision of 'My Karachi-Oasis of Harmony' was first outlined five years ago by Sirj Kassam Teliu and since then KCCI is holding this exhibition every year.
He said that over 500,000 visitors come and shop in style; corporate entities meet and strengthen relationships, and 'My Karachi' ensures that the image of Pakistan and Karachi is enhanced and projected.
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