The Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC) 108th Board meeting on Thursday accorded approval to establishment of small industrial estate on an area of 50 acres in Rakh Choti Dilana, DG Khan, and artisan village in Taunsa Sharif which would be comprised of 16 kanal land.

Provincial Minister for Trade and Industries, Mian Aslam Iqbal presided over the meeting that also gave approval to various financial and administrative matters. A committee was also constituted to examine the Chief Minister's Self Employment Scheme, being run through Akhuwat.

This committee would submit its recommendations within next two weeks after a detailed review of this scheme and decisions about Chief Minister's Self Employment Scheme would be made in the light of committee's recommendations.

Addressing the meeting, Aslam Iqbal hoped that artisan village would help promote local heritage along with facilitating 400 artisans of the area. He directed that establishment of an artisan village near Kartarpur Corridor be reviewed as well. Similarly, re-functioning of dysfunctional furniture design center in Chiniot should be ensured and all such PSIC operated centers should be reactivated in the province.

The minister directed to complete the development works in small industrial estates as soon as possible adding that Punjab Small Industrial Estates Policy should be fully followed in this regard. He disclosed that an industrial estate will be set up on Lahore-Sialkot motorway as revitalizing the industrialization process is important to encourage trade and economic activities. An effective mechanism should also be formulated for the colonization of industrial estates, he added.