Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that industrial development, investment and expansion of business activities can strengthen the economy, create new employment opportunities and help reduce unemployment. The Sindh government will continue to extend full support to the industrial sector and make every possible effort to resolve the issues faced by the business and industrial community.
CM pledges full support for industrial growth, job creation
KARACHI, Oct 01 (APP): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that industrial development, investment and expansion of business activities can strengthen the economy, create new employment opportunities and help reduce unemployment. The Sindh government will continue to extend full support to the industrial sector and make every possible effort to resolve the issues faced by the business and industrial community.
He was speaking to industrialists and members of the business community at the annual dinner of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI).
The event was attended by outgoing KATI President Muhammad Ikram Rajput, Acting Patron-in-Chief Zubair Chhaya, KAIT Chairman Zahid Saeed, CEO Saleem-uz-Zaman, Sindh Ministers Jam Ikram Dharejo and Saeed Ghani, Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho, Member National Assembly and businessman Dr Iqbal Baig, Zubair Tufail, Khalid Tawab, Senior Vice President Zahid Hameed, Vice President Syed Talha Ali, Dr Abdul Bari, foreign diplomats, bureaucrats, newly elected KATI President Sheikh Umer Rehan, former chairmen and presidents of KATI, representatives of various institutions and a large number of business community members.
Responding to a request from KATI industrialists, the chief minister announced that an emergency snorkel would be provided to help deal with emergencies in the industrial area.
Addressing concerns raised by industrialists over the Yellow Line project, Syed Murad Ali Shah assured them that their reservations would be addressed. He said industries could not afford to remain closed even for two hours and that industrial activities must not be disrupted during execution of the project. A mechanism would be worked out in consultation with industrialists to ensure continuity of industrial operations.
He stressed that a stable industrial sector was essential for a strong economy. “If Karachi is strong, Sindh will be strong, and if Sindh is strong, Pakistan will be strong,” he said.
The chief minister said the Sindh government had approved Rs9.282 billion for the rehabilitation and improvement of infrastructure in Karachi’s industrial areas.
Murad Shah said the establishment of a task force had produced positive results, while the law and order situation in the province had also improved during the past few months. He said dacoits in the riverine areas had surrendered before the law.
He announced that a meeting with KATI industrialists would be held soon to discuss industrial infrastructure, transportation, energy, law and order and other issues and formulate a practical strategy for their resolution.
Establishment of new industries and expansion of existing units would increase investment, production and exports, create more employment opportunities and enhance government revenues, he added.
He said the government and private sector could, through mutual consultation and cooperation, play an important role in transforming Sindh into a strong industrial and economic hub.
Murad Ali Shah congratulated Sheikh Umar Rehan, Syed Farrukh Ali Qandhari and Nasir Sheikh on their unopposed election to KATI leadership. He also appreciated the services of outgoing President Muhammad Ikram Rajput, Senior Vice President Zahid Hameed and Vice President Syed Muhammad Talha Ali for highlighting the issues of the industrial community during their tenure.
Earlier, KATI President Muhammad Ikram Rajput said that progress on the Taj Haider Bridge, Korangi Crossing Bridge and Jam Sadiq Bridge projects, along with the inauguration of Shahrah-e-Bhutto, had significantly improved logistics for the Korangi Industrial Area.
He thanked the Sindh government for continued support during his tenure as KATI president and expressed hope that cooperation and consultation between the government and industrial community would continue in the future to promote industrial activity.
KATI Acting Patron-in-Chief Zubair Chhaya said the association had serious reservations over the Yellow Line project.
He called for the concerns of industrialists to be addressed and meaningful consultation to be held before implementation of the project.
He thanked Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and the provincial government for providing a special grant of Rs25 million to KATI through the chief secretary, saying government support for resolving the problems of the industrial community was appreciable.
