The Punjab government has initiated an action plan for the development of small and medium industries to ensure strong industrial base in the province.
Official sources told Business Recorder here on Tuesday that the step had been taken to further accelerate the pace of export activities in the province.
Under the plan, a new industrial estate would be developed over 1,000 acres of land on Kamoki-Eminabad Road near Gujranwala. An industrial estate would also be established in Narowal district, they said.
The proposed industrial estates would be developed on the patterns of Sunder Industrial State (Lahore) where all modern facilities would be ensured, the sources added.
According to the sources, special attention had also been accorded to bring about the industrial revolution through setting up large-scale industries, including agro-based industries in the province.
The government had set aside rupees eight billion for extending loan facilities to the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and newcomers for upgrading and setting up their industrial units in Punjab, said the sources.
In addition to this, they said, special attention had been focused on the "women entrepreneurship" and many steps had already been taken for facilitating the businesswomen in Punjab.
Adequate step had also been taken to diminish the financial problems being faced by the businessmen engaged in small and medium industries as well as for removing the hitches, which were hindering the process of setting up of new industrial projects.
Under the plan, the sources said, the government would provide all facilities, including financial assistance, to the willing persons for manufacturing non-traditional products.
They said the government was mobilising all available resources to motivate and attract overseas Pakistanis and foreign investors to invest in the export processing zones, especially in Sialkot and Gujranwala.
The provincial government had developed an investment-friendly climate to further accelerate the industrial development in the province, they added.