The National Industrial Parks Development and Management Company on Monday launched the Korangi Creek Industrial Park (KCIP) to attract both local and foreign investment for further industrialisation in the country.
Addressing a press conference at the company's head-office, Chief Executive Officer the National Industrial Parks Development and Management Company Zubair Habib said that it would be a modern industrial park with state-of-the-art infrastructure and all essential facilities.
The project occupies 250 acres of land ideally located in Sector 38, Korangi Industrial Area, in close proximity of the major industrial, residential and commercial areas of the city, he said. The KCIP would ensure provision of world-class infrastructure to industrial enterprises as the present government was focusing on boosting industrial sector by providing investor-friendly atmosphere to the investors, he said, adding that basic purpose of the company was to support focused industrial growth by developing world-class industrial parks all over the country.
The CEO said that the industrial park would be established at an estimated cost of Rs 20 billion and it would contribute Rs 40 billion to the country's GDP after full-fledged functioning. More than 30,000 people would get jobs after establishment of the KCIP, he added.
The company has been established as an autonomous entity by the Ministry of Industries and Production (MoIP) on the public-private partnership (PPP) basis as a subsidiary of Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC). The industrial park concept has played a pivotal role in the rapid industrial development of countries like China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia to name a few. Pakistan is also endeavouring to emulate this success, he opined.
Zubair Habib said Jurong Consultants of Singapore, having expertise in designing highly successful industrial parks particularly in the Asean countries, had designed the KCIP. The KCIP is the first of its kind in the country and is envisioned to create a self contained industrial community, entailing a comprehensive master plan geared around the idea of strategically clustering specific industries, perimeter wall with controlled entry and exit, well designed road network, 48 MW captive power plant and provision of essential utilities including water, natural gas and telecommunication, he added.
The KCIP would focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the park would have such sectors as light engineering, food processing, consumer and pharmaceutical products, printing and packaging, value added textiles/leather, information technology and gems & jewellery, the CEO said.
The park would have basic facilities such as own effluent treatment plant, internal transportation for employees working there, green areas, community space, vocational training centers and commercial centers for support services to the industry, he said and added that the company had obtained a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Sindh Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
The industries in the park would be bound to comply with the National Environment Quality Standards (NEQS), he said, and added that no speculative interest would be allowed to do speculations in the industrial park.
About the industrial estates of different countries in the world, Zubair said that China has some 270 industrial parks, Taiwan 362, Malaysia 218, Vietnam 71, Indonesia 83, Philippines 30, and Thailand 34. The company is working on many major projects in the country out of which two are in Karachi (Bin Qasim Industrial Park and Korangi Creek Industrial Park), one in Lahore, Marble City Risalpur, Punjab, Rachna Industrial Park etc.
To ensure transparency and to discourage speculative interests, the company has designed a comprehensive sales policy with the objective of attracting only genuine industrial entrepreneurs. The features of this project coupled with provision of the one-stop-service aim to create a hassle-free environment for both local and foreign industrial entrepreneurs, he said.
It is envisioned that this milestone project will create significant job opportunities for skilled and semi-skilled workers and contribute to GDP growth of the country leading to economic prosperity and poverty alleviation, the CEO said adding that the applications for the allotment of plots would be sought from March 9, 2010. The Marketing Head of the National Industrial Parks Development and Management Company gave a detailed presentation on the project.