‘Pakistan’s biggest industrial estates to be set up in Layyah, Muzaffargarh’

[Shahzaz ud din]

‘Pakistan’s biggest industrial estates to be set up in Layyah, Muzaffargarh’
By
Staff Report
-
September 14, 2019
1
1609

LAHORE: A delegation of the Pak-American Business Council (PABC), led by its President Jamal Meer, met Punjab Industries and Trade Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal on Saturday to discuss the new industrial policy, the revival of cottage industry as well as steps taken to promote investment and ease of doing business in Punjab.

During the meeting, PABC President Jamal Mir lauded the Punjab government for taking appropriate steps for the promotion of business activities, saying that the council would take full advantage of the investment-friendly environment in the province.

Mian Aslam Iqbal on the occasion informed the delegation that the country’s biggest industrial estates, spanning over 20,000 acres of land, were being set up in the southern districts of Layyah and Muzaffargarh.

These industrial estates, he added, would “definitely generate economic activities in the region”.

He urged the businessmen to invest in Punjab, assuring them of all possible facilities in this regard.

“Investors can also set up their own industrial estates provided that they have an area covering over 50 acres of land. The Punjab government will help such areas receive ‘special economic zone status’ from the federal government,” he added.

Mian Aslam Iqbal said that the Punjab registration portal had been developed for online registration of companies, adding that the tax collection system was being simplified through clubbing of various taxes, while inspector-less regime had also been introduced.

The minister mentioned that loan scheme for skilled youth would be launched within two weeks, asserting that government had also evolved a plan to revive cottage industry in all 36 districts of the province.

• TAGS
• cottage industry
• Ease of doing business
• indust

 

[Kabira]

Mian Aslam Iqbal on the occasion informed the delegation that the country’s biggest industrial estates, spanning over 20,000 acres of land, were being set up in the southern districts of Layyah and Muzaffargarh.

This is indeed huge if build. Lets see if work start.

 

[Samlee]

Due To Trade War There Are Many Companies Wishing To Come To Pakistan.But PTI Government Has To Hurry

 

[The Accountant]

Meanwhile Sindh government a natural favourite for such investment due to being biggest port city is fighting over waste management. What a shame.

Good going government of Punjab.

 

[B.K.N]

Meanwhile Sindh government a natural favourite for such investment due to being biggest port city is fighting over waste management. What a shame.

Good going government of Punjab.

More than 50 percent of Pakistani population lives in Punjab
which means Punjab is biggest market for anything which is produced in Pakistan and it's natural to have industries close to markets

 

[The Accountant]

More than 50 percent of Pakistani population lives in Punjab
which means Punjab is biggest market for anything which is produced in Pakistan and it's natural to have industries close to markets

And what is the spread of this geographical area?
20% of sales of all the big consumer products are in Karachi. So if you are an investor what would be your preference? Karachi or Punjab?

With easy access to port, high income and consumption oriented population in an access of a couple of hour drive and availability of cheap skilled labor Karachi is the most ideal investing place however, infrastructural, political and security issues are forcing investors to move to other locations and all these hurdles are result of incompetency of government and are governance issues.

 

[313ghazi]

Smart move by Punjab gvt. Manufacturing is on the move to cheaper locations, especially because of China-US trade war. We should take advantage of this opportunity.

And what is the spread of this geographical area?
20% of sales of all the big consumer products are in Karachi. So if you are an investor what would be your preference? Karachi or Punjab?

With easy access to port, high income and consumption oriented population in an access of a couple of hour drive and availability of cheap skilled labor Karachi is the most ideal investing place however, infrastructural, political and security issues are forcing investors to move to other locations and all these hurdles are result of incompetency of government and are governance issues.

Seems like you're debating yourself. Nobody said Karachi doesn't have good potential for investment. But in your own words;

however, infrastructural, political and security issues are forcing investors to move to other locations and all these hurdles are result of incompetency of government and are governance issues

 

[El Sidd]

Layyah has very little water.

Water is the essence of life. How can this aspect be ignored by the Gormint?

 

[B.K.N]

Layyah has very little water.

Water is the essence of life. How can this aspect be ignored by the Gormint?

Most of the area of Layyah district is in Thal desert
But Layyah is at the bank of Indus and Muzzafargarh at the Bank of Chenab or panjnad
Entire thal desert is populated chana and wheats are main crops

 

[El Sidd]

Most of the area of Layyah district is in Thal desert
But Layyah is at the bank of Indus and Muzzafargarh at the Bank of Chenab or panjnad
Entire thal desert is populated chana and wheats are main crops

They need more water to fully utilize the potential in Layyah. Though the weather is harsh there but it is strategically placed to have Industrial City there.

Locals do complain about lack of water there.

 

[B.K.N]

They need more water to fully utilize the potential in Layyah. Though the weather is harsh there but it is strategically placed to have Industrial City there.

Locals do complain about lack of water there.

Water isn't a problem in thal hath walay nalkay bhi hain

 

[El Sidd]

Water isn't a problem in thal hath walay nalkay bhi hain

industry lag rahi hai begum ab to hath wale nalke badal do

 

[The Accountant]

Smart move by Punjab gvt. Manufacturing is on the move to cheaper locations, especially because of China-US trade war. We should take advantage of this opportunity.



Seems like you're debating yourself. Nobody said Karachi doesn't have good potential for investment. But in your own words;

First of all it was a response to an statement where an other guy was claiming that Punjab is suitable for manufacturing due to 50% of Pakistan population is in Punjab. So I explained him that population of Punjab is disbursed and is skewed towards lower incoem people whereas in Karachi population is concentrated in dense area and skewed towards middle class consumption oriented people.

In second part of my post I am cursing Government of Sindh. Karachi is the most ideal place for manufacturing. Believe, me we are running manufacturing places in multiple cities but the quality of cheap skilled labor we get in Karachi is unparallel.

 

[313ghazi]

First of all it was a response to an statement where an other guy was claiming that Punjab is suitable for manufacturing due to 50% of Pakistan population is in Punjab. So I explained him that population of Punjab is disbursed and is skewed towards lower incoem people whereas in Karachi population is concentrated in dense area and skewed towards middle class consumption oriented people.

In second part of my post I am cursing Government of Sindh. Karachi is the most ideal place for manufacturing. Believe, me we are running manufacturing places in multiple cities but the quality of cheap skilled labor we get in Karachi is unparallel.

Oh, it makes more sense now. I was thinking a post had been deleted or something maybe.

I think Punjab is perfectly suitable for manufacturing though. Think about this - if you are a manufacturer and you setup in Karachi, is it because you expect to sell only to Karachi? Of course not. You hope to use the ports to export and the road/rail networks to send goods across Pakistan. Those same networks can be used to send goods to Karachi for sale and for use of the ports.

Punjab does have a diverse population, but it's hardly rural. Look at this table of 100 the most populous cities in Pakistan.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_populous_cities_in_Pakistan

58 of them are Punjab. You don't need to be Karachi to be suitable for manufacturing. I live in the UK, the city of Derby has about 250,000 residents. It is home to Toyota, Bombardier and Rolls Royce. The city of Sunderlad has about 270,000 residents, it's home to Nissan and Nike.
Chesterfield is a small town with a population of 100,000 people. It's got more manufacturing jobs that nearby Derby and Sheffield. It's well connected, people can commute to it, land is cheap.

Most factories will employees in the thousands rather than the tens of thousands. You can't set one up in a pind, but near most cities.

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

Water isn't a problem in thal hath walay nalkay bhi hain

Drip irrigation, i visited a few farms there. Alot of people are growing oranges/citrus fruits there.

Thal isnt barren, a little water and levelling of land is all that is needed.