With focus on job creation through promotion of industrialisation, a comprehensive new industrial policy will be ready by January 01, 2005. Federal Minister for Industries, Production and New Initiatives, Jehangir Khan Tareen said this while talking to newsmen at the office of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (Smeda) here Saturday.
'Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) will remain on priority list of the government as its development creates more job opportunities,' he said.
During his visit to the Smeda office, the Minister was briefed about the on-going and future projects of the Authority.
Tareen maintained that former Malaysian Prime Minister; Dr Mahatir Muhammad recently visited Pakistan and said that guiding force of Malaysian industrial policy was job creation. He said that maximum jobs could only be created through promotion of SMEs.
Talking about Smeda, he said that this institution did formulate good policies and studies but could not achieve too much practically. SME sector could not be developed, as it should be, he said and added that there had always been lack of implementation of policies devised by this organisation. He said that he has thought to introduce public-private partnership concept in this regard, under which a company should be formed to implement the policies devised by Smeda.
He said that this company would be on the pattern of Punjab Industrial Estates (PIE) Management and Development Company. However, he said that it was his initial concept, which has been floated to develop an implementation mechanism, as without it there was no use of Smeda.
The Minister averred that they have selected seven priority sectors ie Engineering, Jewellery & Gems, Marble & Granite, Furniture, Fisheries, Sports Industry and Dairies, to be focussed by the Smeda, as they were labour intensive.
Smeda had evolved a good strategy on fisheries sector but we had decided to revisit this and make it modern and up to date, he added.
To a question, he said that implementation mechanism could be developed in next three months as far as seven priority sectors are concerned. He also said that from now on Smeda would also pay attention on micro industries.
About automobile sector, he said the government would not accept premium on automobiles sale at any cost. "I have called a meeting of automobile manufacturers on Friday next, to convey that the government would take any step for strengthening this sector," he added. He said that he would also ask the manufacturers to give a solution to the premium problem.
He disclosed that the government has decided to import 100,000 tonnes of Urea fertiliser. A summary in this regard would soon be moved in the ECC. He said that situation would be reviewed after a month and government could go up to 250,000 tonnes urea import to meet any shortage in sowing season. To maintain the Urea prices at present level, he said that the government would also subsidise it, as the decision has been taken in principle.
Talking about the new initiatives, he said that initially he would be looking after the project of water lining of 87,000 watercourses. He said it would be the discretion of the Prime Minister that what he assigns to him under this head.
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