Sindh CM meets businessmen: Promoting industrial growth should be primary objective

LAHORE: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah emphasized that promoting industrial growth should be a primary objective. He stated that if the business community prospers, the government will also benefit from increased revenue. He further suggested that offering free land to industrialists would encourage greater industrialization.

The Sindh government is committed to supporting the business community. I will visit the FPCCI office to reassure business leaders that if they work hard, the Sindh government will stand by them. The provincial government is also working on fostering public-private partnerships.

These comments were made during a meeting with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Vice President and Regional Chairman Zaki Aijaz, Vice President and Regional Chairman Sindh South Abdul Mohamin Khan, and other delegates at the Governor’s House in Lahore. Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan was also present. The meeting was organized by FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh.

Murad Ali Shah praised Zaki Aijaz’s proposal to establish business facilitation centers in Sindh and to create companies similar to the Punjab Industrial Estate Development and Management Company and the Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development & Management Company. He expressed that successful models from other provinces would be adopted in Sindh as well.

The Chief Minister also noted that industrial estates have been set up in Khairpur and Larkana, with Chinese investors showing interest in Sindh.

Zaki Aijaz raised concerns about the high land prices in the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone, which make it difficult to establish industries. In response, Chief Minister Shah assured that efforts are underway to explore ways to reduce the land prices in the zone.

Zaki Aijaz and Abdul Mohamin Khan called for the abolition of the gas infrastructure development cess in either Sindh or Punjab to ease the tax burden on the business community.

FPCCI officials also stressed the need to improve road infrastructure and industrial estates in Karachi and the rest of Sindh. Zaki Aijaz further mentioned that FPCCI is working on Vision 2030, which aims to boost Pakistan’s exports to $100 billion. To achieve this target, FPCCI is focusing on district and sectoral economies. They recommended that the Sindh government form a committee, led by the commissioner in each district, to collaborate with FPCCI.

Murad Ali Shah expressed his appreciation for Zaki Aijaz’s proposals and assured that he would brief the Sindh provincial minister for industry about the outcomes of today’s meeting.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024