KARACHI: Provincial Minister for Industries and Commerce and Anti-Corruption and Cooperative Department Jam Ikramullah Dharejo has said that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had approved Rs1.30 billion for rehabilitation of infrastructure in industrial zones as the recent rains had affected the industrial zones’ infrastructure badly.
He said this while talking to media. He said that despite limited financial resources, work was underway on 90 development schemes in industrial zones. Improving the infrastructure in the industrial zones is essential for industrial development in the province.
Dharejo added, “It is a fact that over-staff recruitment in the SITE department is a big issue and timely payment of salaries was a problem. Now salaries are being paid on time in the site department.”
He said that factory owners should also cooperate with Sindh government. The factory owners should not allow encroachments in their respective zones and should help the Sindh government in development works. He said that Sindh government is serious about resolving the legitimate concerns of industrialists, but gas and electricity load shedding has severely affected industrial development. He said that the federal government should review its policies. All the provinces including Sindh should be given their due share of gas.
Dharejo said that it is unfortunate that Sindh produces the most gas but still lacks gas. Industrial development is not possible in case of load shedding of gas and electricity. He said that new industrial zones were being set up for the eradication of unemployment and poverty and development of industries. It is hoped that the establishment of new industrial zones would bring about a positive change.