Representatives of companies obtaining NOC for setting up new cement plants met Provincial Minister for Industries and Commerce Mian Aslam Iqbal at the Civil Secretariat here today. During the meeting, progress was discussed regarding the timeline for setting up of new cement factories after the issuance of NOC. Some companies Informed of the reasons for the delay in establishing new cement plants. Provincial Minister for Industries and Commerce Mian Aslam Iqbal while instructing the companies obtaining NOC to give a timeline within a week for setting up a new cement plant. He said that within six months after obtaining NOC, the company is bound to start work on establishing cement plant. He said that the provincial government has issued 10 NOCs for setting up of new cement factories to promote the construction sector and increase employment opportunities and more NOCs would be issued after the approval of the Cabinet. The provincial minister said that never in the history of the country had so many NOCs been issued in such a short span of time. The faster NOCs are issued, the faster new cement factories will have to be set up. Mian Aslam Iqbal said that with the setting up of new cement factories, billions of rupees would be invested in Punjab. It is gratifying that new industries are being setup up in the province due to the government's pro-industry policies. Among the representative who met the Minister were included Brigadier (retd) Syed Kausar Hussain of Bestway Cement, Asim Khawas Khan of Pioneer Cement, Syed Ahsanuddin of Fatima Cement, Muhammad Tariq of Fuji Cement Limited, Muhammad Ashraf of Maple Leaf, khuram Shahzad ofKohat Cement.Annan khanof DG Khan Cement and others. Secretary Industry and Commerce Dr wasif Khurshid, Additional Secretary Commerce and concerned officers were also present in the meeting.
