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Q-1 You have recently been appointed as CEO, PIDC. We believe it is your first appointment in a government controlled enterprise and maiden exposure to Public Sector environment. Indeed you have a bright record in running your own business and your services to the business community are well known. How do you feel heading a Public Sector Corporation?
Ans. This is a question which is being frequently put to me by all my friends. I personally feel that the PIDC, despite being in Public Sector is nevertheless a well recognised corporate entity standing alongside and competing with private sector in the commercial arena. As regards my joining this Public Sector entity, I may clarify that neither this is my first acquaintance with PIDC nor my maiden contact with Public Sector environment. I am on the Board of Directors and Chairman of Finance Committee of the Board of PIDC since last more than a year. By virtue of being head of Finance Committee, I have the mandate of keeping an eye on the financial matters of all the subsidiary companies of PIDC. Besides, I have served as heads of various subsidiaries of PIDC. I have been Chairman/CEO, of Gujranwala Tools, Die and Mould Company (GTDMC) and Pakistan Hunting & Sporting Arms Development Company (PHSADC), as well as CEO of Aik Hunar Aik Nagar (AHAN). As such I am well versed with the operations and in complete knowledge of working of PIDC and its subsidiary companies. With this background I need little, nay, no time to orient myself to the challenges tagged with my appointment, which any other new comer might be requiring. I am an erstwhile member of PIDC family having now taken over as its head. May Allah, almighty, provide me with all intellect, tact and prudence to take PIDC to yet further heights.
Q-2 When was PIDC established, tell us about the initial philosophy behind its establishment?
Ans. PIDC was established in 1952 under an Act of Federal Legislative. The raison d'etre for its establishment was the critical condition Pakistan was engulfed in at the time of independence. There was at all no industry and the agricultural base was also mild, unable to cater alone for the funding requirements of the nation.
The broad mandate entrusted to PIDC was planning, promoting, organising and implementing programs for (1) establishment of industries, (2) exploration and development of mines and (3) exploration, exploitation and development of any material that government may specify.
Q-3 Over the past sixty years PIDC has played integral role in the industrialisation of Pakistan. Would you please elaborate the core values of your organisation?
Ans. PIDC believes in working with dedication and diligence, concentrating head down on delivering the goods, making optimum and tactful utility of available resources at hand, focusing on both micro and mega economic national goals and accomplishing the targets entrusted by the government. This statement is not jargon of words but a stark/irrefutable reality vouched by the wide spread of industry in Pakistan.
PIDC was entrusted the gigantic task of setting up industrial base for the country at the time, in 1952, when there was at all no industry, the agricultural base was also mild, and where the private sector was shy in investing in the fields where large amount of capital outlay with long gestation period was required. All that we find today in the industrial sector is the fruit of concerted efforts put in by PIDC by successfully undertaking the daunting task of building up the industrial base of the country virtually from scratch and bringing it up from infancy, nay, rather conception to the magnificent edifice as it exists today.
PIDC is proud to be an effective arm of the government in expanding the economy of the country, horizontally as well as and vertically. Point out to any area of industry, Engineering, Cement, Fertiliser, Ship Building, Mining etc the trailblazer in each area is to the credit of PIDC. Indeed the entire spectrum of commerce and industry of the country is tagged, in one way or the other, to PIDC.
Q-4 What is the new paradigm within which PIDC operates?
Ans. True to its mandate, well cognisant of its responsibilities and ever vigilant of the changes taking place on the industrial / economic horizon, PIDC has all through the last six decades has stood to the challenges and delivered what the country demanded. The industrial base as it exists today has its root embedded deep in PIDC.
Remaining synchronised with the changing scenario, PIDC till 90's set-up and developed the industries and after 90's, leaving industrial set-up to the private sector, being the compulsion of global scene, shifted developing the skills in various sector aiming at meeting the industrial requirements of technically well versed and professionally sound human recourses, by way of establishing Sector Developing Companies in various disciplines of high socio-economic importance. And the notable paradigm shift in PIDC is my nomination from a Private Sector as its CEO. Certainly a Public Sector entity headed by a person from Private Sector will create a remarkable difference. Please pray that I meet the expectations of the concerned quarters of bringing revolutionary indelible changes in PIDC.
Q-5 Tell us about the key projects that have been undertaken by PIDC in public-private partnership?
Ans. PIDC has so far established Development Companies in the areas of Technical Upgradation, Gem & Jewellery, Furniture, Tools & Dies, Industrial Parks, Sport Hunting, Stone Cutting, Craftsmanship, Embroidery and Chemical/Engineering.
Q-6 What are the key strengths that PIDC brings to such partnerships? How does it add-value to the proposition for private sector?
Ans. The development companies set-up by PIDC are a blend of Public Private Partnership with 100% funding from PIDC/Government and their operations executed through autonomous Board of Directors having majority of members from Private Sector/experts in respective disciplines and Chairmen/CEOs also from the Private Sector. These companies that have brought in the modern technology in respective areas and have imparted latest knowledge in industrial skills through common facility centers, have resultantly so far produced thousands of skilled manpower well aware and adept in latest techniques.
These PIDC sponsored development companies are benefiting the industry in two ways; by facilitating the industrial units in adopting new technologies and by way of providing them skilled manpower. Not only that these subsidiaries are acting as facilitator for the industry, these companies themselves have emerged as active market player and have established their stake in the mainstream economic activity of the country. Some of these subsidiaries have even entered the export business.
Q-7 Government entities are often criticised for lack of proper oversight. How does PIDC ensure transparency and good governance within its structure?
Ans. Yes, it is a common perception about Public Sector entities which generally is true and could hardly be contested. However, in PIDC I can state with confidence that such a tendency has been attenuated substantially, thanks to my predecessor, who has now been elevated to the position of Federal Secretary, through who's apt actions and strict measures, adequate financial discipline now exist in PIDC and its subsidiaries.
The steps taken towards establishing a concrete financial discipline are: enforcing the system of periodic progress reports from the subsidiary companies; a 3rd party audit of PIDC as well as its subsidiary companies was done in 2010; and above all and the most important, PIDC's active involvement in the regular audit checks has been ensured through directives of BOD of PIDC whereby it has become mandatory for all the subsidiaries to nominate CEO PIDC and Chairman of Finance Committee of BOD on the Finance Committees of their respective companies. Through such steps not only some flaws have been surfaced in working of the companies, that are being rectified, but also financial discipline has improved considerably. All these steps have proved a catalyst in improving performance of PIDC. It will be my endeavour to ensure quick progress of all the subsidiary companies through effective monitoring and financial discipline with the aim to achieve the goals of skill development and technology up-gradation in all the disciplines, which PIDC has ventured in.
Q-8 What in your opinion is the biggest challenge facing CEOs like you today and what could be a possible solution?
Ans. As a businessman and having been associated with Chamber of Commerce and Industry, I have concluded that congenial working environment, enveloping family like atmosphere among the staff, honest implementation of rules without any discrimination, exercise of financial discipline and personal example of the Chief Executive worth emulating, are the corner stones of any healthy organisation.
As CEO, PIDC I feel it my bounden duty and taking it a challenge, to create working environment where team spirit among colleagues is inculcated, righteousness is reflected from all corners and everybody works strictly as per the rules with no coercion.
Q-9 Would you like to give any message to your readers?
Ans. As a businessman and as a follower of Quaid-e-Azam, I will impress upon the readers to work with honesty, dedication, devotion and zeal, with the high sprit of proving gainful to the institution they are working for while at the same time keeping in focus the relevant goals of high national importance.
Excerpts from an interview with Khalid Mahmood Chadda, Chief Executive Officer, PIDC

Copyright Business Recorder, 2012

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