Minister Punjab IC&T Sheikh Alla-u-din has said in a statement that due to KPK’s Government incompetence and lack of interest, not even a single industrial township has been completed in the province. Under the 2016 Industrial Policy of KPK, it was promised that 18 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and nine small industrial estates will be constructed but like its promise of making several dams, the KPK’s industrial policy also proved to be deception. He said that the KPK Economic Zones Development and Management Company (KPEZDMC) failed to bring even a single-dollar foreign investment. For the establishment of new SEZs, a budget of more than Rs30.48 billion was estimated, the KPEZDMC had to establish an SEZ in Hattar for which it had an area of 424 acres.
The Minister said that development work on this zone was supposed to be completed till December 2016. However, the company has sold only 300 acres of land due to the delay. Out of this allotted area, the establishment of factories has only started in 10 to 12 plots in fact no one factory has started its operations so far. He said on the other hand, Government of the Punjab has set up industrial estates throughout the province. Industrial Structure of Punjab is a combination of different Industrial SME Clusters. SME Clusters in Punjab are specialized in production from low tech Cutlery Products to hi-tech Auto Parts, from Raw Vegetable and Fruits to value added Food Stuff and Juices from Handloom Textile Products to Modern Textiles, from Hand Stitched Footballs and Wooden Sports Goods to Mechanized Balls and Composite Material Sports Goods, from Traditional Carved Furniture to Modern Aesthetic Design Furniture and many more.
The Minister said that the multitude specialization in production of different goods geographically spread from Lahore to Sialkot, Faisalabad to Sargodha and Multan to Rahim Yar Khan. In major achievements of Punjab;s industry included QUAID-E-AZAM APPAREL PARK (QAAP) is being developed on an area of 1536 acres with additional land of 200 acre for labour colony near district Sheikhupura. The major focus of QAAP is to establish clothing and apparel industry along with vertical integrated units of garments manufacturing. This initiative would enable to create about 250,000 new jobs in Punjab and it will also help to attract Foreign Direct Investment. He said that CHIEF MINISTER’s SELF EMPLOYMENT SCHEME: (CMSES) since 2011for provision of interest free financial assistance on soft term basis up to 50,000/- to unemployed youth of Punjab preferably skilled/ semi-skilled persons for businesses and setting small enterprise. A sum of Rs 10,000,00 million were provided to M/S Akhuwat for this purpose. Up till now about 1,411,259 loans were provided out of which 649,213 were female creditors throughout the Punjab. He further said that PUNJAB SKILL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME: a target was wet to produce two million skilled workers up till june 2018. The major implementation partners for imparting skilled training are TEVTA, PVTC and PSDF. So far 1,519,000 youth have been trained and current year target for skill training is 6,45,000. SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISE CREDIT SCHEME: an allocation of Rs. 3000.00 million has been earmarked in ADP 2017-18. Under this initiative, credit would be available for new as well as existing SMEs on easy terms & conditions. The Minister said that SUNDAR INDUSTRIAL ESTATE: SIE comprising of 1750 acres of land was inaugurated in Feb, 2007 and is a vision turned into reality. It is the first project assigned to PIE & was envisioned to be an ‘island of facilitation’ for prospective industrialists. there are over 450 factories in production in Sundar Industrial Estate and contributing to the economy by generating employment of 70 to 80 thousand persons. Punjab Small Industries Corporation: (PSIC) The body contributes to small industrial development in the province and is the trade and investment promotion agency. The Minister said that Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Marketing Company (PIDMIC) was established in 2003 to develop and manage Industrial estates. Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development & Management Company (FIEDMC) was established under the companies’ ordinance 1984 to develop Industrial estates. Targets for financial year 2017-18 :Provision of infrastructure for establishment of new industries, Establishment of E-Portal for business registration, Development of Quid-e-Azam Apparel Park, Provision of need based technical and vocational training, Cluster development to enhance colonization, Customized lending and empowerment of Artisans, Promotion of handicraft industry and preservation of regional crafts, Skill training of 645,000 Individuals under Punjab Skill Development TEVTA, PVTC, PSDF etc. It will not only promote industrial sector but also create new employment opportunities for youth of Punjab.