The Senate Functional Committee on Problems of Less-Developed Areas has called for round the clock opening of Chaman border like Torkham border for economic and trade activities with Afghanistan and Central Asian countries.
The functional committee of the upper house headed by Senator Mohammad Usman Kakar comprises of Senators Rahila Magsi, Gianchand, Fida Mohammad, Mohammad Ayub, Haji Momin Khan Afridi, Nighat Mirza, Kalsoom Parveen, Sardar Mohammad Shafiq Tareen and Adviser to the PM on Industries and Production Abdul Razak Dawood.
The committee has prepared a draft of twelve recommendations after getting detailed briefings from the senior officials of Ministry of Industries and Production and chief executive officer of AHAN (Aik Hunar Aik Nagar), CEO SMEDA Sher Ayub Khan and General Manager SMEDA Javed Iqbal Khattak and other sector's companies.
They briefed the committee in detail regarding already completed and ongoing projects and their impacts on the life of the people of less-developed areas.
After holding three meetings with one each in Islamabad, Kohat and Malakand, the committee compiled its detailed recommendations for the acceleration of development process in the less-developed areas of the country.
It appreciated the work of AHAN and stressed the need to promote the local artisans, local culture and products. The committee has recommended that the local artefacts of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially the kiln industry at Balochistan must be revived as their work being appreciated worldwide.
The committee has also recommended provision of regular budget of at least Rs 45 million to ensure that local artisans and their cultural identity may be promoted.
Speaking on Tharparkar and its artefacts, the committee recommended that a policy must be formulated to promote artisans of Thar to provide the benefits from the Thar coal and power plant; outlets be opened by AHAN at airports, 5 Star hotels, shopping malls and at the motorways. It was also suggested that it may display its products at the shops situated in the Parliament House and lodges.
The committee called for installation of Chromite-washing plant at Muslim Bagh and Coal Washing Plant and Sulphur Treatment Plant at District Loralai. It urged that SGS Laboratory for checking minerals quality be established in Muslim Bagh.
It observed that work in the Bostan Industrial Zone has been pending since long; therefore, it should be started at the earliest. Moreover, land for industrial units should be allotted according to the requirement of the plants at the reasonable rate.
On the issue of no objection certificate from Environmental Protection Agency for industries in Malakand division especially steel mills being shut down due to intervention from such agencies, the committee emphasised these issues should be resolved. Similarly, employment opportunities should be provided to the people of FATA and funds ought to be allocated for development of the area.
The report of the sub-committee was submitted before the main committee regarding visit of FATA to check progress of different projects, including mineral resources for consideration. It recommended dehydration plants of fruits and vegetables should be installed at Districts Pishin, Killa Saifullah and Loralai.
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