The government is determined to convert Gujranwala into a model Industrial City and under 'Made in Gujranwala Vision', it intends to establish a model Industrial Estate on the pattern of Sundar Industrial Estate, Lahore.
These views were expressed by Federal Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives, Jahangir Khan Tareen at the ground breaking ceremony of Gujranwala Business Center to be established jointly by the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (Smeda) and Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), here on Monday.
Kamran Rasool, Federal Secretary Industries, Shahab Khawaja, Chief Executive Officer, Smeda, Ikhlaq Ahmed Butt, President, GCCI and M Aslam Sheikh, Vice-President, FPPCI also spoke on the occasion. A large number of industrialists, traders and representatives of trade bodies attended the function.
Tareen maintained that the government's pragmatic economic policies had not only increased the profitability of entrepreneurs in the country, but also increased the government revenue. The government is undertaking development plans throughout the country and besides Gujranwala Business Center, it has decided to set-up modern Tools, Dies and Molds (TDM) center at a cost of Rs 14 billion at Gujranwala. He urged the GCCI office-bearers to set up a company for establishment and operation of the proposed TDM center.
Tareen announced that the government is considering to establish a modern Industrial Estate at Gujranwala. He asked the GCCI to form a four-member committee to identify the site for this project. He disclosed that Punjab government had assured to provide a piece of land for this purpose. He assured all out co-operation of the federal government in this regard.
He said that "Made in Gujranwala Vision" is the first location specific strategy which will be followed in other industrial cities of the country as well.
Shahab Khawaja, Chief Executive Officer Smeda gave a briefing on Gujranwala Business Center. He disclosed that the project involved a capital outlay of Rs 86.5 million including capital cost of Rs 60.84 million and an operating cost of Rs 20.66 million for three years. He assured that the project would be completed within stipulated period.
Kamran Rasool, Federal Secretary for Industries said that the Ministry of Industries, Production and Special Initiatives was committed to convert Gujranwala into a modern Industrial town. He assured that like Gujranwala Business Center, the other projects identified under "Made in Gujranwala Vision" would be materialised in the near future.
Earlier, GCCI Chief Ikhlaq Ahmed Butt, in his address of welcome hoped that the establishment of Gujranwala Business Center would help increase exports from Gujranwala. He was confident that this Center would help increase exports from US $620 million to US $1 billion in the near future.