PESHAWAR - Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said that energy crises has become issue number one of the industries and people of his province though, he asserted, we are producing far more energy than our needs including electricity, oil and gas.
He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting regarding infrastructure development meeting on Hattar Industrial Estate in district Haripur here at CM Secretariat Peshawar.
He vowed it is high time for federation to review entire situation on realistic grounds so that no grain of the sense of deprivation and usurpation of rights emanate anywhere in the country but people are fully satisfied and spirit of national integrity grow with passage of time.
He acknowledged that Hattar Industrial Estate (HIE) is the only big and active zone than rest of its industrial areas turning into graveyards so no efforts will be spared to promote HIE.
He however assured industrial community 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, privatizing all industrial zones and many other policy measures. He added that it had been decided to setup as many as four new industrial zones at important commercial points in the province while progress has also been made in setting up of oil refinery in southern districts.
The meeting reviewed in detail matters relating to this important industrial estate of the province, infrastructure development, resolution of energy crisis and needs of skilled manpower and took some crucial decisions in that regard. PTI MPA from Haripur Akbar Ayub, President Hattar Industrial Association Malik Mohammad Farid, secretary general Taj Ghani and other office bearers, Advisor to CM on Economic Affairs and Investment Rafaqatullah Babar, Chairman CM’s Complaints’ Cell and Focal Person Donors Organizations Haji Dilroz Khan, Principal Secretary to CM Muhammad Ishfaq Khan and administrative secretaries of the industries, labour, C&W and other concerned departments attended the meeting.
Besides, taking steps for the development of Hattar Industrial Estate, the chief minister directed the resolution of the problems faced by the industrialists of the estate on priority bases. He explained that in this regard the departments of industries and manpower other concerned organizations including Workers Welfare Board and Social Security should also be made effective. He said that HIE is the important source of employment for thousands of families and revenue receipt of the provincial government, hence he said its problems will also be resolved on emergent basis.
He, on a demand, asked for the establishment of a high level committee for the revival of industrial units, which had become sick due to different reasons including the shortage of electricity and gas. Similarly, he also directed concrete steps for early construction and repair of all roads inside the industrial estate as well as Hassan Abdal-Abbottabad Highway and clarified that now the pace of development throughout KP will be accelerated. He said that the construction work undertaken during PTI government will be thousand folds better than previous governments. The chief minister directed the authorities for controlling overloading on Hattar and other roads of the province on the pattern of motorway. Agreeing with the demand for establishment of modern hospital and provision of residential facilities, arrangement of dowry fund for the workers of Hattar and setting up of medical college and other professional institutions for their children, he directed Workers Welfare Board for taking necessary steps in this regard. He also justified demands for granting leases for the exploration of local minerals on the basis of transparency and merit and directed the Department of Industries and Mineral Development for giving priority to local industrial units in this regard. To a question regarding fuel adjustment, he said in this regard the provincial government will file appeal with Supreme Court to extend relief not only to declining industries, but also to poor people. Khattak revealed that center has accepted our genuine right of using excessive production of oil and gas while we have chalked out comprehensive energy policy to overcome energy crises.
“The provincial government has decided to meet the electricity needs of the domestic and commercial consumers of the province separately at local levels”, he maintained and added that provincial energy department has chalked out brisk plan to this effect with focus on exploiting the hydel power potential of the northern districts and thermal including oil, gas and solar power resources of the southern districts of the province. He said 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 bring it in conformity with the requirements of local industries and contemporary needs and changes.
He said offers of new investment in Hattar are good omen. The plan of Frontier foundry has decided to setup a modern steel mill in HIE that 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.
Chief Minister underlined the need to convene joint meetings of local 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. He said that the provincial government will extend all the required facilities to the investors who are willing to make investment over here. The industrialist reps lauded the measures being taken by the provincial government to eliminate corruption and ensure transparency in govt affairs as well as creating conducive environment for industrial growth and assured the provincial govt of all out support in this regard.