Bin Qasim Industrial Zone holds great potential for attracting foreign and local investment due to its unique location, being adjacent to the port having most modern shipping facilities.
These views were expressed by the speakers at Bin Qasim Association of Trade and Industry's annual conference on "Challenges Faced by Pakistan Industries, Remedies and Futures Prospects for Industrialisation," held at local hotel on Wednesday.
The speakers said that shortage of gas, power and other utilities and lack of infrastructure are serious problems for the expansion of this industrial zone. Port Qasim Authority Chairman Vice Admiral Muhammad Shafi (Retd) said the PQA is in very good position to expand its industrial activities owing to huge land owned by the port authority.
He said the PQA is improving the infrastructure in industrial zone to make PQA the first choice of shippers and industrialists. "It is the only port in Pakistan that has its own industrial zone," he said, adding that the PQA has shown a tremendous growth in a short span of time. "We expect that the industries in port area will invest more in future."
"We know that there is need for improving infrastructure for which we have asked Pakistan Railways to improve its system," he said. He pointed out that the PQA owned 31,000 acres of land. As many as 180 industries are operational in the industrial area while other 257 industries are in the pipeline. He was of the view that seaports are one of the reasons for industrialisation in the world. "We are fortunate enough that the Port Qasim has turned into a strong industrial port of this region," he added.
He assured the business community and the members of BQATI of all possible support for setting up industries in the zone. "We will provide infrastructure," he said, adding that "In return I hope more industrialists will invest in our industrial zone."
Mian Muhammad Ahmed, Patron-in-Chief of BQATI said that a lot of industries in the port industrial area are not coming on stream owing to energy shortage in the country. He said BQATI would continue to serve as the bridge between trade and industry and government functionaries.
He pointed out that they had faced deteriorating law and order situation in the area last year, however, the situation has improved with increased police patrolling on the National Highway. Security cameras have also been installed at key locations, liaison with Pakistan Rangers has been maintained for setting up checkpost at PQA and enhance BQATI Neighbourhood Watch Programme on self-help basis.
He said BQATI was also successful in working with PQA to resolve the long-standing issues of seed pilferage at Port Qasim through deputation of supervisory companies, work with local authorities to have road repair work completed on National Highway and Port Qasim which were seen as hotspots for street crimes. Work with PTCL has been carried out to set up customer facilitation center at Port Qasim and install fiber optic lines with state-of-the-art telecom facilities.
Abdul Rasheed Jan Mohammad, Director of Westbury Group gave a detailed presentation on "Port Development - Vehicle to Industrial Progress" and highlighted various issues being faced by the industry. Dr Faizullah Abbasi, MD, Sui Southern Gas Company, Ahmed Chinoy Chief of CPLC, Aamir Zia, Deputy CEO of KESC and others also spoke on the occasion.
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