Karachi: Vacant industrial plots to be cancelled

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Sabihuddin Ghausi
KARACHI, Dec 15: Sindh Industries and Commerce Minister Abdul Rauf Siddiqui announced on Monday cancellation of all those industrial plots after a month, which were allotted five years ago but are still unutilised and no hints are being dropped by their owners to start construction of a unit.

“Either the owners of such plots take steps to set up industrial projects on the unutilised land next month or face cancellation of their allotment,’’ the minister warned at a press conference while pointing out that any interested investor, who will offer a feasible investment scheme on such a cancelled plot, will be instantly given ownership possession.

The minister launched Sindh Industrial Trading Estate (SITE) website at the press conference, which, he said, will keep all the investors update on land availability, layout position, cost factor and other information. “Investors are being provided for the first time an opportunity to submit an on-line application for a piece of land in a simple manner.

“The government has framed a very simple and hassle-free investment scheme under which investors do not need any prior approval, sanction or a no objection certificate for setting up an industrial project in the Sindh province,’’ Mr Rauf announced.

He also announced launching of implementation of a huge infrastructure development plan at a cost of more than Rs2 billion, which has been drawn up for big and medium-size industrial projects. For small units, he said, the Sindh Small Industries Corporation has already launched an Rs257 million infrastructure development programme.

The minister disclosed that he had given a proposal to President Asif Zardari in a meeting to offer ten-year tax holiday on setting up agro-based industrial units in Sindh, which, he disclosed, has been accepted in principle. It will go a long way in ushering in an industrial revolution in rural Sindh.

The provincial government has set up with Rs1 billion investment four development and management companies, which will take up infrastructure development in industrial enclaves of Landhi, Korangi, Federal B Area and North Karachi. The federal government is providing Rs1 billion assistance in this scheme to improve water supply, construction of bridges, and improvement of allied facilities in these industrial estates.

A summary has been submitted to the Sindh government to undertake infrastructure development in industrial estates under the supervision of development and management companies in the interior of the province at Hyderabad, Kotri, Nawabshah, Khairpur, Sukkur and other towns.

“We have already deposited Sindh government’s share of Rs200 million in the upcoming Textile City, which is being constructed on 1,200 acres near Port Qasim,’’ he informed.

He said Rs100 million were being spent on a public-private partnership project for construction of a boundary wall around SITE industrial zone on Super Highway, a 50-bed hospital, and laying foundation stone of a fire brigade station. The work is beginning on Thursday.

Other steps being taken to accelerate pace of industrial investment in Sindh, he said, are launching of development work on additional 1,300 acres being acquired for SITE Hyderabad at a cost of Rs150 million. Efforts are on to acquire land for Khairpur and Larkana industrial estates.

Work to augment water supply at Nooriabad industrial estate at a cost of more than Rs1 billion will begin from January 25.

The minister announced details of the development being taken up by the Sindh Small Industries Corporation and declared to handover possession of industrial plots at Thatta, Badin and Sanghar on 20 per cent deposit of all cost with payment of remaining amount in easy installments in next ten years.

http://www.dawn.com/2008/12/16/ebr1.htm