The Amreli Steels (Pvt) Limited, which has developed its infrastructure, is waiting provision of basic utilities by Sindh government so that the remaining construction work could be completed as soon as possible, it is learnt. According to sources, the Amreli Steels had demanded allotment of at least 600 acres of land at Dhabeji, district Thatta, to set up the steel plant, but the Sindh government did not take the matter seriously.
However, it purchased some 91 acres of land and started construction work on fast track basis and developed 50 percent of infrastructure in a short time, sources said. They said that the Sindh government is also undertaking work at Dhabeji site to set up Industrial Economic Zone. The delay in providing basic facilities such as electricity, gas, water, road network, etc, is discouraging the investors.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Amreli Steel, Abbas Akberali, recently forwarded a letter to the Secretary Industries Ali Ahmed Lund requesting him to ensure provision of basic facilities at Dhabeji as soon as possible. A copy of the letter was made available to Business Recorder.
The letter says: "We would like to bring to your kind attention that under your chairmanship, it was decided that we would give our requirements of water, gas and electricity for our 200,000 tons per year Steel Mill Plant, under construction at Dhabeji on National Highway.
"We shall be highly obliged if necessary instruction are passed to the utilities to bring their trunk lines near the vicinity of the Amreli Steel Mill so that all the industries around us can tap from these Town Border Station (TBS) of Sui Southern Gas and Master Station of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) as soon as possible." Sources said that Sindh government had allocated Rs 200 million for water and gas supply schemes of Industrial Economic Zone, Dhabeji.
But no work has been initiated so far despite the fact that the provincial government had declared that work at site should be started on top priority basis. They said that Amreli Steels would produce one million tons steel annually, in three phases. Out of this, 200,000 tons would be in first phase, 0.5 million tons in second, and one million tons steel in third phase.
Moreover, Amreli Steels has conducted a survey of Dhabeji area and identified potential industries, which are likely to come in the area when the steel plant gets operational and expansion such as steel rolling mills, various small foundries, repair workshops etc. There will be a host of other small industries and workshops like furniture repair shops, mechanical fabrication shops and residential area for the labourers, sources added.
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