Prime Minister stresses need to devise industrial policy

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that Ministry of Industries & Production has a key role to play in creating an enabling environment for industrial growth, as Pakistan, with a consumer market of 170 million people, abundance of raw materials, cheap labour and entrepreneurship, is endowed with all the requisites to climb the ladder of industrialisation.
The Prime Minister expressed these views while chairing a presentation at the Ministry of Industries and Production here Tuesday. It may be mentioned that Premier Gilani is the first CE of the county who visited the Ministry of Industries in 25 years.
Expressing concern over the past practices which did not produce desired results, the Prime Minister underscored the need for an early formulation of an industrial policy which is consistent, holistic and pragmatic in approach and can capitalise the real potential of the country, and thus can generate jobs, maximise national output and benefit the poor by putting indigenous materials and labour to their best use. He called upon the need for consolidation and upgradation of industry while ensuring good governance and transparency to make it competitive and value-added.
The Prime Minister said that only a well-designed industrial policy backed by appropriate implementation strategies could address the inherent problems of the industrial sector which at present was reflecting a plagued picture due to low productivity, poor and unreliable infrastructure, unskilled labour force, low value addition, lack of quality standards and poor technology.
The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Industries to monitor the performance of various companies and organisations working under it and asked the Ministry to justify their existence by showing results on ground. He while expressing concern over the output of Pakistan Steel Mills, directed the Ministry to come up with a viable business plan to make the PSM a productive industrial unit that was financially sound and economically sustainable.
Underlining the importance of SMEDA for the promotion of SMEs in the country, the Prime Minister stressed that SMEDA must show results that were measurable and could be seen by everybody. He further called upon for a more supportive role of SMEDA in the further development of SMEs, as it would help in industrialisation, job generation and income enhancement.
He said industrialisation in the country was not only necessary to generate jobs and economic activities for the poor and unemployed youth and meet industrial needs of 170 million people but was also a must to claim rightful share in the global market.
The Prime Minister directed the Ministry to achieve the target of setting up of utility stores in each union council. He was apprised that 300 new utility stores would be opened shortly for which first tranche of Rs 300 million had been received and an additional amount of Rs 300 million had been allocated in the next budget.
Regarding complaints about supply and sale of substandard consumer items at the utility stores, he further directed the Corporation to professionalise its working and ensure both the quality and quantity of consumers supplies available at the doorstep of the poor.
On the distribution of fertilisers in the country, the Prime Minister directed the Ministry to improve its performance so that past experience should not be repeated regarding pricing and availability of fertilisers. For this, the Prime Minister constituted a committee consisting of Ministers of Industries, Agriculture, Commerce and Advisor to PM on Finance to look into the modalities for ensuring efficient distribution process.
During the meeting, it was observed that in order to reinvigorate the functioning of PIDC, private sector involvement was a must besides linking of various small technological institutions with some major institutions while focusing on research and development.
Secretary Industries & Production in his presentation briefed the meeting about the role and functioning of the Ministry. He informed the meeting that the Ministry was playing a leading role in formulating and implementing a comprehensive strategy for rapid industrialisation in the country, which aimed at maximising job creation and enhancing Pakistans international competitiveness.
He further apprised the meeting of the Ministrys new role from a controlling authority to a facilitator, enabler & custodian of industry.
Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance Shaukat Tarin was also present in the meeting and he gave fruitful thoughts, which would help boost the industrial sector.