NWFP Governor, Owais Ahmed Ghani has said that a business centre, 'Peshawar Business City' will be established at the newly vacated site of Kacha Garrhi, for which basic concept has almost been finalised.
He was addressing a one-day symposium on 'Economic Overview', as a chief guest, which was organised by the Industrialists Association of Peshawar, in collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) at a local hotel.
The Governor said that the Smeda is actively engaged in chalking out necessary details and strategies to give final touches to the project. "The project, on completion would offer ideal opportunities to the businessmen, especially the exporters on the bank of the historic trade highway leading to Central Asian States through Afghanistan," he added.
The symposium, besides leading industrialists and businessmen from across the province, was also attended by known educationists, entrepreneurs, public opinion leaders and representatives of banks.
Prominent personalities from cross section of the business community including, Nauman Wazir, an industrialist who is also President of the Association; Riaz Ahmed, representing Pharmaceutical Industry, Adeel Rauf of Match manufacturing industries; Malik Riaz Ahmed from Flour Mills sector; Dr Omer Zakorri of Hayatabad Industrial Estates; Babar Shirazi of Hattar Industrial Estate; Ghulam Dastagir, representing entrepreneurs; Manzoor Elahi, Exporter and Atif Hanif, representing bankers, highlighted the issues relating to trade, industrialisation and entrepreneurship in the province.
The Governor, while responding to the points and suggestions put forward by the participants, said that the locational advantage, apart from locally available raw material are considered the basic ingredients for ensuring success of any enterprise and fortunately, we are blessed with both the qualities.
In fact, he said, we must capture the opportunities and adopt concrete strategies to make our province, especially the historic city of Peshawar, a hub of trade and industry in true sense. Apart from the traditional business activities, the Governor said, the province is also going to become the international energy corridor, which would offer extraordinary opportunities to investors.
The development of Gawadar Sea Port, coupled with under construction new land routes, he added, is also going to further increase the geographical importance of this region. Therefore, he remarked, there is a dire need to take cognisance of the demand of the hour and initiate concrete measures by all concerned for economic uplift of the nation on long-term basis. Referring to another point, the Governor said, indeed we must have to focus on manufacturing sector both on small and large scales basis to put the things on right track.
While conceding to a point to exploit the existing potential in hydel power generating sector, the Governor said, this single field, if developed properly, has the capacity to make a turn around in the industrial development of this province. In fact, he said, the government is quite conscious of these realities and trying its best to meet the requirements.
However, he added, the entrepreneurs should also come forward and play their more courageous role to avail the opportunities. As far as law and order is concerned, the Governor said, the government is following concrete strategies to ensure complete peace and normalcy and things have already started moving on positive lines in this respect.
The Governor particularly mentioned the steps, underway for strengthening of Police Force saying that solid measures are underway not only to induct more policemen but also equip the force with latest gadgets in all respects. Talking on another point, the Governor appreciated the keen interest of the flour millers to resolve the food shortages on sustainable basis and desired that they themselves should come out with solid suggestions for this purpose.
Referring to a point regarding the problem of traffic congestion, especially in Peshawar, the Governor particularly mentioned the construction plan of Northern Bypass as part of the existing Ring Road and said that practical work on it will be taken shortly. Similarly, he added, survey for construction of a new linkage between Mattani and Jamrud to divert the traffic, coming from Indus Highway is also in progress.
Besides, he added, certain other options, including establishment of a new institution, 'Traffic Engineering and Control Authority' as well as development of rail linkages are also under consideration to ease the situation.
Ghani also welcomed the realisation of the industrialists towards economic development of the province and assured his fullest support not only to resolve their difficulties but also enable them to avail new opportunities to enhance the capacities of their respective organisations and units.
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