Sindh government has completely ignored the Sindh Industrial Trading Estate (Site) Association of Industry in its reforms, being carried out in the industrial estates of Kotri, Nooriabad and Larkana. This was stated by Salim Parekh, chairman Site Association in the discussion session of a seminar "Industrial Governance Reforms in Sindh," organised by Sindh Growth & Rural Revitalisation Programme, Provincial Planning and Development Department at local hotel on Wednesday.
He said Site is the oldest and the largest industrial estate comprising over 3000 industrial units and ignorance on the part of Sindh govt is unjustifiable. He demanded of the authorities concerned to include Site Karachi in the reforms process.
Meanwhile, Ali Ahmad Lund, provincial secretary industries department expressed apprehension about the employees of Site limited, saying that if Site Karachi was included in the reforms process, around 1800 employees would lose their jobs. However, he assured the Site representatives to include the largest industrial estate in the reform process in second phase. Talking to Business Recorder, Ali Ahmad said the provincial government is going to establish Sindh Industrial Estate Development and Management Company Limited (SIED&MCL) for the development and management of the industrial estates of Kotri, Nooriabad and Larkana.
He said the SIED&MCL was aimed at developing infrastructure besides facilitating the provisions of utilities including electricity, gas, telephone and medical facilities and ancillary services for the units established or to be established within the industrial estates.
He further said it would promote interaction between the industrialists and the government to create a conducive industrial environment in the estates. The SIED&MCL would also arrange workshops and meeting points for creating interaction with international investors, government regulators, NGOs and various similar services organisations and bodies for creating a conducive environment.
Ali Ahmad said the total number of members of the Board of Directors of the company would be 11 as some seven members would be persons representing industrialists of respective industrial estates and remaining four would be nominated by the government.
Earlier, Engr. M A Jabbar, former president of FPCCI said the decision to split Site Limited by establishing SIED&MCL was aimed at providing level playing field for both companies to show their best. He said the setting up of SIED&MCL would create a healthy impact on the performance of Site Limited, which is presently not up to the mark.
He urged the authorities concerned to contemplate the proposal of Site chairman for inducting Site Karachi in the reform process, adding that Site Karachi should be included in industrial reforms for the improvement of its infrastructure.
He said Site Karachi, the biggest and the oldest industrial estate with 10000 electric connections translating into consumption of about one sixth of the electricity produced by the KESC appear to be an ancient village for archaeologists to know the history of origin.
He further said that Site Karachi is facing several other issues including overflowing drains, absence of affluent treatment facility, growing crime rate, unavailability of adequate water supply, encroachments, etc, which should be resolved on priority basis to facilitate the most revenue generating industrial estate at maximum.
Muhammad Sarwar, a representative of Asian Development Bank urged the provincial government to minimise the role of public sector in industrial estates, adding that professionals having managerial skills should be engaged on market based emoluments to lead and manage industrial enterprises. Furthermore, he said the concerned authorities should take remedial measures to ensure policy and operating autonomy in industrial estates, which is essential ingredient for industrial growth.
Dr Shereen Narijo, co-ordinator on industrial reforms said the provincial government with the assistance of the ADB is pursuing the policy reforms to improve the performance and efficiency of public sector enterprises, which would enhance private sector participation in the management of commercial activities under public private partnership. She said SIED&MCL would work as an autonomous body without any financial assistance of the government. A large number of representatives from provincial industries department, Site Association, Nooriabad, Kotri and Larkana industrial estates were also present on the occasion.
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