The multi-billion rupees Korangi Creek Industrial Park (KCIP) is destined to give a feel of Dubai's skyline and comforts of Singapore Business Complexes. National Industrial Parks Development & Management Company (NIP), CEO Mohsin Syed told Business Recorder that the Company was all set to introduce the most modern concept of high rise industrial complex in its flagship project KCIP.
As soon as the industrial units established at KCIP start production, this industrial zone alone will start contributing Rs 40 billion annually to GDP and provide approximately 30,000 direct and 180,000 indirect employments. The project designed by Jurong Singapore, renowned internationally for their expertise is being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 3.3 billion which will have an investment opportunity of Rs 20 billion.
A license agreement was signed here recently by Mohsin Syed and owner of Mulla Ebrahimji Karimbhoy (MEK), Yousuf Mohsin, a professional enterprise involved in the planning, designing, production and sales of banking, office and industrial steel furniture and equipment. Earlier GETZ Pharma, Mobil Askari Limited, Al-Rehman Lubricants and Farooq Impex signed license agreement with NIP and are getting ready to start construction of their manufacturing plant at the allotted site.
The signing ceremony of license agreement with MEK authorises them to start construction of its manufacturing plant at the site of Korangi Creek Industrial Park KCIP, a state-of-the-art, first-of-its-kind industrial zone. Mohsin Syed said that high rise factory referred to as flatted factories were now considered to be an ideal solution to urban industrialisation programme. This concept was developed way back in 1960s at the heavy industrial estate at Jurong Industrial Estate, Singapore when many light industries such as metal working, shoe making, textiles and paper products, were accommodated in low rise units, in a mix of pre-war shop houses or, in wooden and zinc factories many of which were squatting on state land, and there was a pressing need to development factory space to accommodate the growing numbers and mix of light industries.
The idea of the flatted factory, he pointed out had actually originated from Hong Kong, which had great success in providing factory units for its small manufacturers, which was its mainstay in the 1960s. Relatively inexpensive flatted factory buildings close to the urban areas which had access to labour and transportation turned out to be a big success, he remarked.
Flatted factories, Mohsin Syed pointed out, were high-rise multi-tenanted developments with common facilities such as passenger and cargo lifts, loading/unloading bays and car parks. They are designed for clean and light businesses which require functionality, production flexibility and space utility where owners and operators provide tenants with excellent service back-up and maintenance support allowing companies to focus on their core businesses.
Elaborating the concept, he said that flatted factories comprise medium to high-rise factories which house multiple tenants/lessees sharing common facilities such as car parks, loading/unloading areas and cargo lifts. Many of these flatted factories are located near public housing estates, giving businesses easy access to a ready labour pool, as well as shops and services of suburban town centres. Most of flatted factories are also well connected to major roads and expressways, making them convenient for tenants. In addition, some of these flatted factories contain amenity centres, he remarked.
Commenting on the present scenario, he said that as the offices currently available in high-rise commercial complexes in the city were mostly unoccupied, because they were not secure enough, the NIP therefore, wanted to establish a fully secure location at KCIP. That high rise complex would not only change the skyline of the metropolis but gave a feel of Dubai's skyline and comforts of Singapore Business complexes to both national and multi-national entrepreneurs who would be more than willing to set-up their offices in the commercial capital of the country, far from the reach of extortionist, he pointed out.
NIP now offers ideally suited plots for sectors like Gems and Jewellery, IT and Corporate offices at their flagship project KCIP. They can now construct purposeful dedicated state-of-the-art high rise buildings of ground plus 19, which ensures them 48MW captive power generation for uninterrupted electricity, round-the-clock security, Gated entrance with perimeter wall, underground utility corridor, overall metalled road and a host of other facilities. The processing of all these facilities will be done by NIP under its one-window operation system.
Due to rampant extortions, quite a few businessmen have relocated to countries like South Africa and Dubai and very rightly succumbed to the injustices of the demands made by the Bhatta mafia. However, a very large number of them still want to continue business in Karachi despite the brunt of the lawlessness that rules the city. They are in search of office spaces but in safe and secure surroundings. Therefore, offices currently available in high-rise commercial complexes in the city are mostly unoccupied, because they are not secured enough. Both national and multi-national entrepreneurs are willing to set-up their offices in the commercial capital of the country provided they get space in a complex which is far from the reach of Bhatta mafia.
Since I I Chundrigar Road known as the Wall Street of Pakistan has reached a saturation and had no space to offer the up and coming entrepreneurs, builders thronged Shara-e-Faisal keeping in view its strategic position and Clifton being an upscale locality. In a short span of 10 years a large number of commercial plazas emerged on both sides of the boulevard offering 2.7 million Sq ft of office space grade, while the rest can be graded as 'B' and 'C'. The Clifton, on the other hand, offers 2.2 million Sq ft. Unfortunately, out of total available office space only eight percent of them can be classified as 'A'. A grade space is usually located in company operated tailor-made head offices such as MCB Tower, PSO House, Faysal House and Harbour Front, facing the Arabian Sea, is the only exception.
The prevailing situation in the city forced the entrepreneurs to change the selection criteria of office space for running the business. The priority of low price and proficient sizing has now been changed to good secure location with ample space for parking. However, the other vital attributes which affect the decision of occupying office space are on-site car parking, easy accessibility, cutting edge IT and communication facilities, availability of utility services, high speed elevators and above all an uninterrupted supply of electricity. Any complex which ensures all these facilities and services will not face any problem in getting the occupants. Important segment of our SME involved in Gems and Jewellery, IT, Media Houses, Research Centres etc are in fact, looking for such modern state-of-the-art complex, categorised as 'A' grade, situated in safe and secure surrounding, far from the reach of Bhatta Mafia.
With the setting up of industrial units at KCIP, which include consumer, food & pharmaceutical, garments/textile, light engineering & packaging & printing, the city of Karachi will enter in to a new era of economic prosperity.
The KCIP project which has been launched by NIP through its own window operation system offers entrepreneurs with guaranteed uninterrupted power supply through 48 MW captive power plant and all essential utilities like water, gas and telecommunication at their doorstep. Main attraction of this industrial zone is perimeter wall with controlled entry and exit to the complex spreading over an area of 250 acres at Korangi Creek offering a safe and secure environment to the industrialists. To date approximately 80 percent of the total saleable plots have been sold-out while a number of applications are still in the pipeline. This shows the confidence that NIP has earned over the years through its hard work, transparent policies and efficient teamwork.
The Park has zones namely Low Density and High Rise. The Low Density Zones cater for industrial sectors including garments, consumer food, pharmaceutical, value-added garments/textiles, printing/packaging and light engineering. The High Rise Zone is reserved for high-rise flattened factories, multi-story office complex for banks, multinationals, corporate sector besides a dedicated Gems and Jewellery workshops and sales centre and Information Technology Centre.
As the offices currently available in high-rise commercial complexes in the city are mostly unoccupied, because they are not secure enough, the NIP is all set to establish a fully secure location at KCIP. This high rise complex will not only change the skyline of the metropolis but give a feel of Dubai's skyline to both national and multi-national entrepreneurs who will be more than willing to set-up their offices in the commercial capital of the country, far from the reach of Bhatta mafia.
NIP now offers ideally suited plots for sectors like Gems and Jewellery, IT and Corporate offices at their flagship project KCIP. They can now construct purposeful dedicated state-of-the-art high rise buildings of ground plus 19, which ensures them 48MW captive power generation for uninterrupted electricity, round-the-clock security, Gated entrance with perimeter wall, underground utility corridor, overall metalled road and a host of other facilities. The processing of all these facilities will be done by NIP under its one-window operation system.