Chief Secretary Sindh Asif Hyder Shah said the government’s priority is to urgently resolve the problems faced by industrialists, while ensuring implementation of a one-window operation for the industrial sector. He urged industrialists to submit their proposals so the government could take immediate action on their concerns.
Addressing industrialists at the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Asif Hyder Shah said several issues were common across Karachi’s seven industrial zones and would be addressed promptly through a coordinated action plan. He said the government was already aware of most of these issues and had begun taking steps to resolve them.
The meeting was attended by KATI President Muhammad Ikram Rajput, Deputy Patron-in-Chief Zubair Chhaya, KITE Limited Chairman Zahid Saeed, KITE CEO Saleem-uz-Zaman, Senior Vice President Zahid Hameed, Vice President Muhammad Talha Ali, former chairmen and presidents Masood Naqi, Johar Qandhari, Ehteshamuddin, Rashid Siddiqui, Farrukh Mazhar, Sheikh Umer Rehan, Junaid Naqi and Kanwar Qutbuddin, Managing Director and CEO Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation Ahmed Ali Siddiqui, Korangi Deputy Commissioner Masood Bhutto, SSP Korangi Fida Hussain Janwari, Managing Director Sindh Mass Transit Authority Behzad Memon, Project Director Yellow Line and BRT Kamal Dayo, TMC Korangi Municipal Commissioner Ghulam Sarwar Rahupoto, and other senior officials and KATI members.
Chief Secretary Sindh said all concerns raised by KATI regarding the Yellow Line project would be addressed. He acknowledged that the Korangi industrial area could not afford even a single day of closure due to its economic importance. Therefore, he stressed that all development projects, including the Yellow Line, should be executed without disrupting industrial operations.
Asif Hyder Shah said issues relating to stamp duty, the Labour Department and minimum-wage inspectors would be resolved through consultation. He asked KATI to submit its proposals on Mehran Town and other issues so appropriate policies could be formulated.
He also proposed forming a three-member committee to support industry and develop an action plan to resolve problems faced by industrial units.
Earlier, KATI President Muhammad Ikram Rajput said the Sindh government had approved a total development package of Rs9.282 billion for Karachi’s industrial areas, including Rs2 billion allocated for the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry. He termed the decision an important example of an industry-friendly policy and cooperation between the government and industrial sector.
He said the problems of the Korangi Industrial Area had accumulated over several decades and their permanent resolution required a sustained and comprehensive development programme. The Rs2 billion allocation was an important start, he said, but the complete rehabilitation of the industrial area required additional resources and continued attention.
Muhammad Ikram Rajput stressed the need for additional development funds and a comprehensive, phased infrastructure development package for Korangi. He said water supply remained one of the major problems facing industries in the area.
KATI Deputy Patron-in-Chief Zubair Chhaya said the government-established task force was performing its responsibilities effectively and that industrialists’ complaints had declined significantly since its formation.
He said the industrial sector had reservations about how the Yellow Line project would be implemented. Export consignments were transported from Korangi industries to ports and other parts of the country daily; he warned that any delay or disruption could cause irreparable losses to industry and the national economy.
Zubair Chhaya said the Yellow Line was an excellent initiative for the development of Karachi, but the manner in which its implementation had been planned could paralyze the Korangi Industrial Area, which Pakistan could not afford.
He also said the issue of Mehran Town remained unresolved and stressed that, in light of the relief provided by a recent Supreme Court decision, Mehran Town needed to be granted the status of an industrial area.
During the meeting, KITE Limited Chairman Zahid Saeed, former presidents and chairmen Masood Naqi, Sheikh Umer Rehan, KITE CEO Saleem-uz-Zaman, Rashid Siddiqui, Junaid Naqi, Farrukh Mazhar and Nighat Awan, among others, discussed infrastructure issues in Karachi, particularly the Korangi Industrial Area, as well as Mehran Town, the Labour Department, fire safety, minimum-wage inspectors, stamp duty, and issues relating to the Revenue Department and taxation. They presented various proposals for resolving these issues, which were appreciated by Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, who assured the industrial community of full cooperation.
