With focus on provision of infrastructure facilities and conducive business environment to the investors, the provincial government is pursuing a comprehensive programme to give boom to industrial activities through promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) so as to meet the future challenges emerging in the WTO regime.
Jahangir Khan Tareen, Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Agriculture and New Initiatives in Social Sector, said this while talking to Business Recorder with reference to Industrial Policy of the provincial government.
"In the Punjab Industrial Policy, the provincial government has laid a solid foundation for the promotion of business and industrial activities by forming 'Punjab Industrial Estate Development and Management Company' (PIEDMC) which is working for providing 'clean environment' with all infrastructure facilities available to the investors in the Industrial Estates.
This company is running its affairs through a Board of Directors which comprises two-third private sector people and one-third representatives from government sector," Tareen said.
He further said that the Punjab government is paying full attention on providing clean business environment to industrialists and a major break through was achieved through setting up PIEDMC. "We are sincerely working to restore confidence of investors and remove their apprehensions about unhealthy business environment. We set the policies in right directions and making dedicated efforts to promote business activities," he added.
He further said that the Punjab government has already released Rs one billion to the PIEDMC for the development of 'Sundar Industrial Estate' near Raiwind. The Company, in a record period of six months, has acquired 1,500 acres of land for this Industrial Estate.
The process of allotment of plots in this Industrial Estate would start in September this year, while complete infrastructure facilities would be available to the allottees by July 2005, he added.
The ADviser disclosed that the Punjab government has also released Rs 200 million and Rs 100 million for providing necessary infrastructure facilities in Kot Lakhpat Industrial Estate and Multan Industrial Estates, respectively.
The Board of Management of both the Industrial Estates had already been formed and now they are working for providing necessary infrastructure facilities in their respective estates.
Developmental activities in both the Industrial Estates have been started and the private sector people are managing the affairs of both the Industrial Estates.
The government considers that only private sector could properly run the affairs of such Estates, he added. After completing the development work in both the Industrial Estates, other Estates would be selected and required development funds would be provided for providing infrastructure facilities.
Talking about 'Sundar Industrial Estate', Tareen said that this Estate is being set up as a pilot project and after its success, similar projects would be established in other major cities so that the process of industrialisation could be flourished.
Nevertheless, boom in industrial activities not only creates job opportunities but also helps in fetching precious foreign exchange of the country through export of various products.
"The PIEDMC has already accomplished a huge task of acquiring 1500 acres of land in a record period. Now it is paying full attention on provision of infrastructure facilities in the Estate.
The sale of plots in this Industrial Estate will start in September this year to enable the investors to complete necessary construction work on their plots during the process of provision of facilities like roads, sewerage, electricity, gas, underground firefighting facilities, fire-brigade, etc so that they would be able to kick start their projects soon after completion of developmental activities.
This Industrial Estate would be unique in the sense that adequate security arrangements would be adopted and as such this Industrial Estate would be ideal for investment," he said.
To a query, he said the Punjab Government invites local as well as foreign investors to set up industrial units in 'Sundar Industrial Estate' which would be ready by July next year with all infrastructure facilities available in a neat and clean environment conducive for both local and foreign investment.
After completion of three phases of this Industrial Estate, around 60,000 job opportunities would be created that would be helpful in reducing poverty level.
This would also fetch estimated business investment of 10-12 billion of rupees, which would help a lot in giving a boost to industrial activities.
It may be mentioned that the Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Ellahi had announced creation of PIEDMC with special task, to provide fully developed plots, sheds and constructed areas for Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) on ownership basis. Provision of roads, sewerage, solid waste disposal, fire-fighting facilities, fire brigade, utility connections, security arrangements are responsibility of the company. Besides, PIEDMC would ensure arrangement for related commercial facilities, like chartered accountants, telecommunication, courier facilities in the estate.
Paying tributes to Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Ellahi, he said that he is making sincere efforts to promote industrial activities in the country and has already taken bold initiatives by providing huge funds for improvement of infrastructure facilities in existing two Industrial Estates (Multan and Lahore) and creation of Sundar Industrial Estate.
The present government believes in practical steps and taking bold initiatives, which would go a long way in boosting the industrial process.
To a query Tareen was of the view that 'Pervaiz Ellahi is a bold person, who has already taken various initiatives, which shows his commitment to serve the people as well as country', he added.
To another question, he said the provincial government has already requested the federal government to take necessary steps for reducing the number of taxes for the facilitation of investors. "We have also requested the federal government to simplify the tax system," he added.