KPK making efforts to bring about industrial revolution: Khattak
PESHAWAR - Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said that provincial government is making serious efforts to bring about an industrial revolution by attracting maximum investors in the province. For this purpose, he said, a package of incentives is being mulled that include provision of cheap electricity to industries in the province to make local and foreign investment more attractive, privatising all industrial zones and many other policy measures.
He added that it had been decided to set-up as many as four new industrial zones at important commercial points in the province while progress has also been made in setting up oil refinery in southern districts.
He was talking to a delegation of industrialists led by the Chairman of Industrial Estate Association and Frontier Foundry Pvt Ltd. Nauman Wazir that made a call on meeting with him at CM Secretariat Peshawar and discussed with him issues related to the promotion of industrial activities, rehabilitation of the sick industrial units, overcoming the issue of energy in the province and other matters of mutual interest. Provincial Minister for Health Shaukat Yousafzai, Advisor to Chief Minister on Investment and Economic Affairs Rafaqatullah Babar, Chairman CM Complaint Cell Al-Haj Dilroz Khan and MPA Javed Naseem were also present on the occasion.
Khattak said that his government would provide all the required facilities and guarantees to those desirous to make investment in the province so that the badly affected economy of the province could be revived and maximum opportunities of employment and business could be made available to the jobless people by promoting industries, trade and commerce in the province.
He termed the technical education as vital for youth and said that the provincial government was taking effective measures to develop the system of technical education on modern scientific lines and to bring it in conformity with the requirements of local industries and contemporary needs and changes.
Nauman Wazir informed the chief minister about the plan of Frontier foundry Pvt Ltd to setup a modern steel mill at Hattar Industrial Estate and told that the first ever steel mill of the province would be setup with a total investment of Rs.7.00 billions having a produce capacity of 6,50,000 metric tons per year. “The mill besides catering to the province’s needs of steel will also provide job opportunities to about 35000 people,” he informed. He also offered to impart practical training to the students of public sector technical education institutions and other jobless youth in private sector industries.
He also offered investment from private sector to produce thermal electricity by utilizing the coal reserves of the province in line with policy of PTI govt to provide cheap electricity to the industries. Chief Minister welcomed it and asked for send a formal proposal to this effect.
On the suggestion of the delegation the Chief Minister directed to convene a joint meeting of industrialists, investors, chambers of commerce reps and high ups of concerned departments to develop partnership between the public and private sectors for the revival and promotion of industries, overcoming the energy crisis and boosting the province’s economy.
KPK making efforts to bring about industrial revolution: Khattak