City industrial estates: MoC meeting to discuss trade policy initiatives on August 7

The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) has initiated discussions on the modalities for the implementation of the trade policy initiatives regarding rehabilitation of infrastructure in the industrial estates in Karachi.
A meeting has been convened here on August 7, under the chairmanship of the Commerce Secretary, where stakeholders have been invited to give their input on the subject.
Participants have been advised to prepare brief on the latest status of the rehabilitation of infrastructure in the industrial estate and on the efforts made by the respective department/association for discussions in the meeting.
According to a working paper, prepared for the meeting, infrastructure plays a dynamic role in the economic and social development of a country, as the under-developed infrastructure severely restricts economic development.
The infrastructure, especially in the industrial estates in the country, is in dilapidated condition and requires immediate development and rehabilitation for the promotion of the trade and industry.
Realising the situation, the Minister for Commerce, while announcing the 2004-05 Trade Policy, had declared that to facilitate the exports, the Federal government would collaborate with the private sector stakeholders in rehabilitating the infrastructure of existing industrial estate.
The Federal government would contribute up to 50 percent of the cost of such rehabilitation, whereas the provincial government, district government and private sector stakeholder (users) would contribute 25 percent, 10 percent and 15 percent respectively, the Minister said.
Hence it is necessary to discuss the scheme with the representatives of various trade associations of the industrial estates so that an agreed strategy for division of responsibility and sharing cost of rehabilitation of infrastructure, etc in the industrial estates could be evolved in the light of the trade policy initiatives.
If the Sindh government, City District Government of Karachi (CDGK) and associations of the industrial estates also agree to contribute 25 percent, 10 percent and 15 percent respectively, then the PCs-1 can be submitted to the CDWP for the Federal government funding after estimation of the cost of works involved.
The main objective of the stakeholders consultation process is to disseminate information on the concept of the trade policy initiative and its expected impact, and to gather information on relevant issues so that the feedback received could be used to address these issues at an early date.
The CDGK has prepared a development and rehabilitation plan for Karachi. Initially, to implement the plan, meetings were arranged in the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) office under the chairmanship of the EPB Chairman.
A task force to co-ordinate with the stakeholders was constituted, and four meetings with the trade associations of the concerned industrial areas, ie Korangi Trade Association, Federal "B". Area Trade Association, North Karachi Trade Association and Landhi Trade Association were held under the chairmanship of the EPB Vice-Chairman.
During the meetings, all the trade associations had pledged to make their best efforts to contribute to the programme after consulting their members.
The meeting on August 7 could include discussions on an overview of the existing conditions of the existing industrial estates, enforcement problems and their resolution, appropriate implementation mechanism, stakeholders contribution, source of funding by each stakeholder, mode of collection, and implementation agency, institutional arrangement "corporate entity".
A presentation by a well conversant representative of each trade association on existing state of affairs of each industrial estate may be made.
Sialkot could be quoted as "success story" in public-private partnership. Representatives of the district government may also be there with a representation, encompassing holistic approach of the programme.