Provincial Minister for Industries, Commerce & Investment (ICI) Sheikh Allauddin has directed the government functionaries to initiate strict action against those who grabbed industrial lands illegally or got subsidized industrial land and later on sold it on high rates in form of commercial or residential land. He was addressing second meeting of CM Committee constituted to examine the sale of surplus land on industrial units. Senior Member Board of Revenue, Secretary Industries and representatives from Colonies, Finance, Excise & Taxation Departments and different industrial estates of the province also attended the meeting. The Minister said that “Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif wants to ensure that industry must be established on the land allotted for this purpose in order to strengthen the economy as well as provide employment to the youth. The CM showed deep concern over the fact that some industrialist in Punjab have sold out that land in form of commercial or residential plots and grabbed hefty amounts illegally. Now a survey is being conducted to assess number of such cases. We will also keep in mind the present market value of such lands and also probe into the matter that how much land was added illegally to the original allotted one. Punjab Government is formulating its Industrial Policy and Industrial Regulatory Authority Punjab to overcome such flaws in future. Later on the minister chaired two meeting in the civil secretariat to review the progress work on the Quid-e-Azam Apparel Park (QAAP) Sheikhupura and Punjab Industrial Development and Management Company (PIEDMC). He directed to conduct the audit of all industrial estates in Punjab on same TORs to evaluate the transparency level in sale of plots and development works. He directed the QAAP administration to harness efforts to initiate development work by hiring a contractor through transparent bidding. He also directed LESCO official to provide high voltage power lines in all industrial estates and QAAP on priority basis by removing hurdles effectively. The officers gave presentations on their respective area by informing that 1250 Acre out of 1257 Acre land in Sunder Estates, 448 Acres out of 458 in Multan, 108 out of 317 in Rahim Yar Khan, 96 out of 296 Acres in Bhalwal and 18 out of 197 Acres industrial land was sold out in Vehari so far.
