Despite limited infrastructure facilities, 179 industrial units are under construction in Port Qasim Authority (PQA) area. This was stated PQA Chairman Rear Admiral Syed Afzal at a networking session and oath taking ceremony of newly elected managing committee of Port Qasim Association of Trade & Industry (PQATI) for 2008 at Country Club on Tuesday.
In his address the new PQATI Chairman, Naeem Ilyas Khanani, highlighted various problems of the industrialists in Port Qasim and presented different proposals and demands to strengthen the PQA-PQATI partnership.
The PQA Chairman said the Authority was open for genuine investors who could come up and establish their industrial units within the allowed period.
The Authority, he said, would only assist the investors by providing infrastructure facilities, approval of drawings, demarcation of land and other prerequisites for starting industrial projects in the PQA area.
Khanani drew attention of PQA chairman towards the problems of the business community in Port Qasim including provision of adequate security during law and order situation, property tax imposed by the city government, sewerage system, effluent treatment plant (ETP), non-utilisation fee (NUF), etc.
He said that PQATI had launched a 'Neighbourhood Watch Scheme' in north-western industrial area of the Port Qasim with an armed security patrol unit and wireless radios for communication on self-help basis.
He said that in view of the current economic downturn, high inflation and cost of doing business, energy crisis and poor law and order situation the PQA should hold its decision on imposition of NUF in those areas which entertain only two committed facilities ie road and potable water.
He said that imposition of NUF should be linked with the provision of sewerage system along with an ETP with 50 percent revised rates in the aforementioned areas.
He proposed a five-member 'PQA-PQATI Facilitation Committee' to review the industrial infrastructural development projects. The PQA chairman said that its Board had decided in 2005 to impose NUF on industrial and commercial plots where at least two committed facilities ie road and potable water were available. He said imposing NUF had resulted in launching and completion of a number of industrial projects in Port Qasim area during e last two years.
"PQA has initiated development projects worth Rs 11,769 million for access roads, water supply and sewerage system and storm water drain on fast track basis and Insha-Allah you all will find this will accomplish within a period of one year or so," the chairman said. He said the property tax issue had been examined for its applicability and would be taken up at the appropriate level.
On security issue, the PQA chairman said with increased patrolling by police of the Port Qasim areas the PQA security staff had also been deployed to increase their patrolling round the clock.
The PQA chairman termed PQATI's proposal on forming a Facilitation Committee as a good move and said directives had been issued to Director General Planning and Development to prepare scope and function of the committee. He assured the PQATI that the PQA management would seriously look into their concerns and allay them with the able guidance of PQA Board.