Federal Minister for Communication Babar Khan Ghauri on Saturday launched 'Al-Watan Industrial Scheme' in Port Qasim Authority (PQA) area, especially designed for expatriates to establish their business in the country.
The Minister directed the Authority's officials regarding transparency in the scheme and warned that any PQA officer involved in malpractice would be taken to task.
The PQA has earmarked a land of 300 acres in its Eastern Industrial Zone (EIZ) for this purpose where mega industries are operating successfully. Each industrial plot is of 1210 square yards and at a cost of Rs 250,000 as peripheral development charges, to be paid in foreign exchange.
The project has been launched through Pakistan's Embassies and consulates in different countries, the minister said, adding that the embassies have been assigned the role of publicity and distribution of application forms among Pakistanis residing abroad.Ghauri said that this is a gift for expatriates earning foreign exchange for the country.
He said he has asked the ministry not to charge land rent till completion of development work in the Al-Watan Industrial Scheme.
He expressed concern over the non-development work been carried out in 'Mehran Town Scheme', which was offered to overseas Pakistanis, even after passage of three decades from its launch.
The Chairman of PQA, Vice Admiral T. M. Khattak, said that about 405 industrial plots have been earmarked in the scheme and allotment would be on a lease for 50 years.
He said the first balloting was held on June 26, this year in which 90 applications were received and plots allotted. Now the number of applicants has risen to 178, he added.
The PQA is committed to provide infrastructure and make sure the availability of other facilities at the earliest to make it more attractive, Khattak said.