An Export Processing Zone is being established at Gujranwala costing Rs 118 million. Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC) and Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) are developing this Export Processing Zone jointly. Official sources told Business Recorder here on Saturday that Gujranwala Export Processing was being developed on 113 acres of land along G.T. Road at a distance of 3 km from Gujranwala City.
In the Gujranwala Export Processing Zone (GEPZ), 221 plots of four different categories have been developed. The GEPZ would be ready in June this year. The process of allotment for plots in the Zone had already been completed.
Sources disclosed that the project of setting up Export Processing Zones at Gujrat and Multan was in the pipeline.
In Gujranwala, the main industries are ceramic, auto gas kits, cutlery, melamine utensils, electrical products, washing machines, room air coolers, silk and velvet products, textile products, sanitary wares and plastic products etc.
The facilities like roads, water supply, electricity, wastewater collection and disposal, industrial waste drains and utility building are being provided in Gujranwala Export Processing Zone. The Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC) will also provide developed plots for the establishment of banks, post offices, telephone exchange, mosque and dispensary in the Gujranwala Export Processing Zone.
Gujranwala has got a plenty of industrial potential and the business community had established different projects, and playing an instrumental role in strengthening the national economy, and in providing employment opportunities to the skilled and unskilled workers of Gujranwala and its adjoining areas. Despite rapid industrial growth in Gujranwala, a large number of small industrial units, unfortunately, are still functioning in thickly populated and residential areas and creating serious environmental problems for the dwellers.
The Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) is making hectic efforts for developing "Export Culture" in Gujranwala aimed at further enhancing the export activities for increasing the volume of export. In addition to this, GCCI had penetrated its special attention on motivating the business community to shift their industrial units from the residential localities to facilitate the masses.
Apart from this, Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) is also making strenuous efforts for making Gujranwala Export Processing Zone a successful project. The functioning of Gujranwala Export Processing Zone will play a pivotal role in the industrial development as well as open new era of prosperity and development. The Gujranwala Export Processing Zone will also help in attracting the foreign investment that will ultimately pave the way for transfer of industrial technology and enlarge the scope of employment in the area.