The Sindh government is considering to lift ban on allotment of government land to industrialists for setting up of industry, Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim said on Tuesday. The chief minister was speaking at the launching ceremony of Chinese Chery QQ Cars in Pakistan and he largely focussed on provincial government's initiatives to facilitate investors for industrial development of the province with the aim to curtail rising unemployment.
"The ban was imposed by former Sindh governor Mohammedmian Soomro following reports of corruption in allotment of government lands and giving precious lands on throwaway prices to people of choice, he added.
The chief minister said the ban would be lifted through an ordinance to facilitate businessmen, as auction of government lands for industrial purposes is hampering industrial growth.
Investors keep themselves away to invest, he added, when they see that price of land through auction is costing them heavily, ultimately discouraging them to come forward to invest in Sindh.
He, however, justified the ban when it was imposed as mismanagement in lands allotment crept up manifolds at that time.
He disclosed that amendments are being introduced in this regard and it would be ensured that land allotment to investors would be used only for setting up the industry.
"The allotment will be cancelled if no industry is set up on the said land within two years of its allotment," he mentioned.
He vowed to halt illegal practices, which were used to grab the government land, and pledged that no land mafia would be allowed to encroach upon the government lands.
He maintained that several areas are available for setting up industry in the province. The large strip of land on both sides of Super Highway from Karachi to Hyderabad is ideal site for industry. However, for it, infrastructure development is necessary, which the government is trying to put in place.
No said agro-based industry has its own importance and must be developed, but nations made progress through industrial development.
In this regard, Arbab said, the Prime Minister has allocated special funds for training of country's labour force and to achieve this goal, the provincial government is also carrying out the work.
Commenting on launching of Chinese cars in Pakistan, the Sindh chief minister declared that Pakistan and China enjoy very cordial relations, particularly China's help in technology transfer, defence and other productions has remained very vital to Pakistan.
He hoped entry of Chinese cars would not only help reduce the gap in supply and demand of cars but would also resolve the problem of late delivery due to shortage.
Chinese ambassador Zhang Chan Xiang, Pakistan Cherry Automobiles chief executive Abdul Wahid and others also spoke.