Financial crises: 1,579 industrial units close during last five years, says Bijarani

The Senate was informed on Thursday that overall 1,579 industrial units were closed throughout the country during the last five years mainly because of financial constraints. Responding to questions of the members in Upper House of the Parliament during question hour, Minister for Industries and Production Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, however, said that the government was making efforts to revive these units again that could help improve country''s economy.
He informed that 7,530 workers were left jobless due to the closure of these industrial units. Giving details, he said 115 units were closed down in Punjab, 700 in Sindh, 688 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 29 in Balochistan and 47 units under Export Process Zones Authority (EPZA).
He said that some 7,000 workers left jobless in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and 530 in EPZA due to the shutting down of these units. The Minister said that all these units were closed before year 2008 in the previous government and also rejected the impression of inefficiency of the current government.
To a question, he said that the government was working on a proposal to revive various industrial areas including Gadoon Amazai and Nooriabad Industrial Areas. He said it was government''s endeavour to expedite industrial development not only to enhance national products, but also to generate more employment opportunities.
To another question he said the Ministry has launched various programmes for skill development so that youth could get more employment opportunities with good salaries. In response to another question, The Minister said that according to the Sacked Employees (Reinstatement) Ordinance No II 2009, a total of 675 employees were reinstated in the Utility Stores Corporation at various levels since February 2009.
He said these people were previously politically victimised by making them jobless, adding that the present government had reviewed the cases of the employees and reinstated them purely on merit. State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Malik Ammad informed the House that Pakistan Consulate in Dubai issued 392 and 168 visas to American and Indian nationals respectively from January 1 to July 31 during the current year in line with the then declared policy of Interior Ministry about visas for foreigners.
He further informed the House that careful scrutiny of the visa record has established that all the visas were issued after completion of required formalities. Minister for Textile Industry, Rana Mohammad Farooq Saeed Khan told the House that a total of 58 officials were appointed in his ministry and its offices including Textile Commissioners Organisation (TCO), Pakistan Cotton Standard Institute (PCSI) and National Textile University (NTU) since 2008. He said that these recruitment''s were made in the ministry and its attached departments by due observance of provincial and regional quota.