A comprehensive strategy has been evolved to develop nine instead of six new industrial cities in Punjab, said Gulzar Ahmed Shah, Director of Industries, Punjab. He was addressing a function in Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) that was also attended by Mian Abdul Mannan, MNA, District Co-ordination Officer Noor-ul-Amin Mengal and district heads of various government departments.
He termed industries an engine of economic growth and said that industrial sector would be the focus of the new 10-point vision of industrial development plan. Chambers or district boards headed by industrialist would be constituted while all allied government departments have been directed to facilitate them. He said that targets for sartorial industrial development would also be fixed by the private sector along with modus operandi to achieve it.
He said that earlier, the industry was considered only a player of the overall industrial development, however, now its importance has been recognised and instructions have also been issued to government agencies and departments to facilitate it. The Director of Industries said that an independent statuary body will undertake the process of its ranking. It will help policy makers to take appropriate measures to bring qualitative as well as quantitative improvement in the industrial sector.
He said that help line or call centers would also be set up at district level to monitor the over-all performance of industrial sector. These centers would also pinpoint the factors responsible for increase in cost of doing business and will help government agencies to take necessary remedial steps to trim the avoidable expenditures.
Continuing, Gulzar Ahmed Shah said that zoning for new industries would be defined in addition to deciding the contours of the industrial clusters. It will help for the future systematic and scientific planning of the province, he said and added that at micro-level China focused policy has been adopted while a GSP cell has also been established to give awareness and training to exporters to fully exploits its financial benefits.
MNA Mian Abdul Mannan said that industries have been forced to switch over to the alternate fuel due to the shortage of gas. It has not only added financial burden on the industries but was also fomenting environment related problems. He said that industries department in collaboration with environment department should evolve a mutually acceptable solution to this problem.
DCO Noor-ul-Amin Mengal said that he was enjoying good cordial working relationship with FCCI and he thinks himself as part of this chamber. "I have also adopted an open door policy to resolve the grievances of public as well as businessmen. He said that the FCCI president has been given representation in all committees working at the district level. This arrangement is very helpful in resolving the issues in consultation with the elected representative of the business community.
About the uplift of Faisalabad, the DCO said that work on mega project involving Rs 21 billion will be started from next week. Canal Expressway, Jhal Khanuanna over-head and underpass, Haseeb Shaheed Hospital, children hospital; Faisalabad link road and Faisalabad city package were included in this mega project. He said that parking plazas have also been proposed in the down town area with the capacity of accommodating 2,000 cars, and 4,000 motorbikes.
He disclosed that 400 acres of land has been identified for new airport near Sahianwala. This port will be constructed through a company and the Punjab Government will pay its equity in the form of land. The remaining amount for its construction could be generated though efficient and prudent utilisation of this land. He said that the airport would not only cater to the future needs of Faisalabad but also facilitate air travellers from surrounding 7-8 districts.
Rizwan Ashraf, president of FCCI, welcomed the guests and said that Faisalabad has made exceptional growth despite of non- availability of basic amenities. This city was also playing a major role in the face of protracted energy crisis, he said and added that during the last quarter, our exports to EU countries have recorded an increase of 9 percent while exports to other countries have decreased by four percent. He said the private sector could generate 1,00,000 jobs through the export of $1 billion. This clearly indicates its potential as engine of employment in addition to its recognised role as engine of economic growth.
He said that the potential of our textile sector is $30 billion but still we are dwindling at $13 billion. He stressed necessary measures to fully tap its potential. During the question-answer session, Rehan Nasim Bharara, chairman of Textile City, Syed Zia Alamdar Hussain, Zeeshan Shahid, Zafar Iqbal Sarwar, Shakeel Ansari, Mian Muhammad Saeed and Abid Nisar also made interesting queries. Later, MNA Mian Abdul Mannan presented a shield to Gulzar Ahmed Shah while Mian Muhammad Saeed also gave away a shield to DCO Noor-ul-Amin Mengal. Later Nadeem Allahwala, senior vice president of FCCI, thanked the guests and participants of the meeting.
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