KARACHI:Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi has assured his full support and cooperation to uplift the infrastructure of SITE area and has asked the SITE Association of Industry to prepare a Master Plan (Proposal) for total revamp of infrastructure in the area. The Master Plan (Proposal) will be presented to the Federal Minister for Commerce for provision of necessary funds. The funds will be released directly to SITE Association of Industry to spend on the improvement of infrastructure.
He was addressing the members of SITE Association of Industry on the occasion of his visit to the Association the other day (19/8).
Mr. Ali Zaidi while expressing views on the proposal to hand over administrative control of SITE LIMITED to SITE Association said that in the larger interest of Karachi he is ready to fight for the rights of Karachi as well as to boost industrial activities in the area.
He pledged to make his “Clean Karachi” campaign a success at any cost and added that he will not give up anyway. Under ‘Name and Shame’ slogan, the names and pictures of those making the city dirty by any means will be published in national dailies with the intention to make them feel embarrassed of what they did and remind them of their responsibilities.
Speaking on the occasion, Patron-in-Chief of SITE Association of Industry Mr. Siraj Kassam Teli said that together with politicians, the business community is also responsible for all the wrong doings. Now its time to speak truth. He expressed dismay over the performance of SITE Limited and demanded to hand over its control to SITE Association of Industry. Mr. Teli further said that Karachi pays 97pc revenue collected by the Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) and if they stop paying taxes to SRB, 97pc revenue will fall.
Patron of the Association Mr. Zubair Motiwala expressing his views on the state of SITE area said that heaps of garbage can be seen everywhere in the SITE area and in many areas, it is extremely difficult to reach factories. The industrialists of the area have tired with government departments and brain drain is on increase. Karachi industries pay 2200 billion rupees revenue to the government but the city has never been given its due share for uplift of infrastructure. He demanded to stop step-motherly treatment with Karachi and urged the need of creating working environment.
Earlier, President of the Association Mr. Saleem Parekh in his welcome address, said that the industrialist pay various taxes to the SITE Limited but unfortunately, they are not provided with basic infrastructure facilities. Current position is that the SITE Limited don’t have money to pay salaries to its staff. He highlighted key issues of the area and said that 400 ton garbage accumulates in SITE area on daily basis out of which, the share of industries is 30pc while the rest of the garbage comes from adjoining residential areas. SITE Limited have the capacity to lift only 40 ton garbage on daily basis. Referring to Sindh Solid Waste Management Board, Mr. Parekh said that this body is practically ‘orphan’ and the industrialists were made fool in the name of engaging Chinese Contractor who were also provided open plot for vehicles parking by the Association. Now Chinese company has disappeared. He suggested to make provincial government a part of the campaign to make it a real success.
Former President Mr. Jawed Bilwani also spoke on the occasion and demanded the federal government to take over the control of industrial estates of Karachi. He said that the new generation is not willing to take interest in industrial activities seeing the current state of industries. They prefer going abroad and our talent is shifting to other countries.
As a gesture of goodwill, Association’s Crest was presented to the honourable Minister. The meeting was largely attended by the Members of the Association and representatives of print and electronic media.