Speaking at the switch-on ceremony of five electrified villages of Nooriabad, with funds allocated to Senator Mohammed Amin Dadabhoy under Tameer-e-Pakistan programme, Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim the other day gave the happy tidings of launch of an ambitious, fast track, programme of industrialisation of the province.
Elaborating the salient features of the programme, he announced that Sindh government would, initially, allot land on deferred payment basis for setting up industrial units in different industrial estates in the province, by way of a long awaited incentive.
Needless to point out, the gesture will be widely welcomed by many a prospective investor, faced with the usually intractable problem of land acquisition for industrial enterprise.
However, he punctuated the offer by spelling out the obligation for the beneficiary to fulfil, which will make it appear that he really means business and that it was not political gimmickery he was indulging in. This has reference to the rigid requirement of establishing the contemplated industrial units on the provisionally allotted plots, within two years, failing which the allotment would stand cancelled. Those fulfilling this obligation, understandably, more facilities have been promised.
The Chief Minister pointed out, the investors would not only be granted the required allotment letters, but they would be further facilitated to pay the full cost of the allotted land in instalments. While pointing out that the cost of land in various industrial estates in the province, and in Karachi in particular, is very high, he said land would be made available to new comers on exceptionally reduced rates.
All in all, it appears that in chalking out the new scheme, the provincial government has based it on an objective comprehension of the overall situation, as presently obtaining on the industrial front. This should stand adequately demonstrated both by the offer of land and the condition attached thereto. For although the need for land happens to be very much there, the fact remains that a large part of plots allotted for industrial purposes has remained unused, while land prices have kept escalating.
It will thus be noted that since the Sindh government is now keen on fast industrialisation in the province, specifically with a keen eye on creation of more job opportunities, efforts need to be made to develop more government land for industrial purposes.
This may be why the Chief Minister referred to the advisability of tapping enough barren and hilly land, from Karachi to Jamshoro, which could be utilised for establishing more and more industrial units.
However, from all indications, the welcome pursuit appears to be marked by an element of haste. Some idea of this may be had from the directive to the Revenue Department to conduct a survey of the land and to present a comprehensive report.
Seemingly, not quite sure of success in this direction, the Chief Minister is reported to have also said that if government land was not available then it would acquire the needed land for industrialisation. Perhaps, such a survey should have been undertaken much earlier for sure results.
However, prepared for all eventualities, he pointed out that the government would also allot additional land in Nooriabad area for developing new industries, saying this estate would have most modern infrastructure facilities in the country. This, indeed, is a challenging job, but given the political will, it should augur well for the renewed bid for optimum industrialisation of Sindh.
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