NWFP Governor Khalil-ur-Rehman has assured industrialists of establishing industrial estate in Malakand to facilitate the local business community. The Governor was talking to a six-member delegation of the Malakand Association of Trade and Industry (Mati), who called on him at Governors' House here on Monday.
The delegation, led by the President of the Association, Haji Ahmad Khan, apprised the Governor about the difficulties and problems being faced by the traders and industrialists of the area.
Referring to a demand for the establishment of an industrial estate in the area, the Governor said that a proposal to establish an industrial estate in Malakand Agency was already under consideration where work on the construction of Malakand-III Hydel Power Project was in progress.
He expressed the hope that a final decision would be taken shortly in this connection in which all possible facilities would be extended to the entrepreneurs.
The Governor told the delegation that as a result of the concrete and solid policies of the government not only the economic activities have been accelerated on strong footings but they are also bringing positive impact on the over all socio economic life of the people.
In this connection, he added, the government had also taken serious initiatives to enhance exports on war footings and for this purpose every possible step is being taken.
However, he said, apart from other policy initiatives to augment the industrialisation and trade activities, infrastructure development was being given top most priority throughout the country.
The Governor further said, construction of Nowshera- Chitral Highway was already in progress under the aegis of National Highway Authority whereas Frontier Highway Authority is entrusted with the responsibility of the reconstruction and expansion of the highway from Chakdara to onward in Swat district.
He assured the delegation to contact the respective authorities of both the organisations to expedite pace of work on the projects.
Regarding the Sui gas facility to industrial units at Kubal in Swat, as well as establishment of Malakand Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Governor also assured the delegation to contact the respective Federal ministries to get their proposals materialised.
The Governor pointed out that there exists vast potential of generating economic activities in the area with special focus on tourism and expressed the hope that the local entrepreneurs would fully capitalise them. Earlier, Haj Ahmad Khan and Haji Ameer Rehman talking on behalf of the delegation, invited the attention of the Governor towards the problems being faced by the Silk and Textile industry of Swat.
They said that some time back almost 15,000 families were earning their livelihood from this single sector but now most of them are confronting unemployment, due to closure of majority units.
They also invited the attention of the Governor towards the dilapidated condition of the communication and transport network in the area and demanded to remove their grievances.