Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Commerce and Industries Ahmad Hussain Shah has stressed the need of industrial development and progress for making national economy stronger and sustainable. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of different developmental projects of industrial estates at Abbotabad on Sunday, he said that the government is taking steps for maximum employment opportunities for the people.
He said that the provincial government had allocated Rs 8 billion for industrial development and progress under the Annual Development Program (ADP) for 2011-12. Out of this, Rs 2 billion has been set aside for the industrial sector of Hazara Division.
Dr Akhtar Hussain Shah also addressed the ceremony and said that the government had launched 11 new industrial zones after which industrial zone will increase from four to 15 in the province.
He said that the province has around 40 percent area of agricultural lands, whereas about 16 percent is hilly. "We are not only focusing on agriculture but are also taking measures for promotion of industrial sector in order to create maximum job opportunities for the people", he viewed. He added that economy will also grow from the industrial development.
He said terrorists organisations were responsible for massive level of unemployment, but there was needed to provide job opportunity to the youth.
The provincial Minister said the Hazara Division is the most suitable area for the investment due to peaceful and scenically beautiful and geographically suitable place for investment and industrialisation, adding that the border of Hazara region links with Punjab and China.
Hussain Shah said that special efforts were underway to promote and establish more industrial zone in Hazara second phases of industrial zone of Hattar and Ghazi are being started.
He said that it was heartening to note that industrial estate Hattar has reached to 5th number of industrial zone among all industrial zones of the country.
He said the government had initiated a soft loan programme worth $ 20 million which will facilitate the investors of the province for promotion of their existing industrial unit and even they can start their own new business.
Earlier, the minister inaugurated different projects of improving and development of infrastructure of the Abbottabad Industrial Estate worth of Rs 2 billion.
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