NWFP to become a major industrial hub

Peshawar: The setting up of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (RoZs) in the Frontier province, revival of sick industrial units, and opening of new ones would transform NWFP into an investment magnet in the region.

Establishment of new industrial zones and mega projects in various sectors of mines and minerals, hydro power and tourism worth billions are on cards in NWFP with a view to making it a major industrial hub that would be a vital link between Afghanistan and the Central Asian Republics (CARs).

The ROZs earlier established in Jordon, Egypt, and Israel would now be set up in tribal areas giving it free access to the American markets. The ROZs are under consideration in the US Senate and once approved the Sarhad Development Authority (SDA) would work out the modalities in two to three-month time and fully facilitate them. The initial period of the ROZs is 15 years and could be extended by the US government on its own prerogative.

Established in 1972, the Sarhad Development Authority is responsible for planning, promoting, organising and implementing programme to set up of industries with a view to filling up the gap between the private sector and provide infrastructure facilities in the form of fully-developed industrial estates.

The SDA has set up 14 industrial units in the province so far while eight new projects are in the pipeline. These new projects include Industrial Estate Hattar, Gadoon Amazai, Nowshera, DI Khan, Jalozai, Ghazi, Risalpur Export Processing Zone, and Industrial Estate Bannu.

Giving details about the new industrial estates in the province, SDA Chairman Farid Khan Wazir said that out of all the eight projects, Hattar is the most feasible and attractive as industries are shifted from Islamabad and Punjab to the adjoining vacant areas keeping in view the hazardous effects of pollution caused by the industries.

He said that Rs 3 billion investment in the NFP industrial sector is in the pipeline and underscored the need for providing conducing environment to the investors in NWFP and Fata apart from infrastructure and other facilities to attract huge foreign investment in this sector.

Around 1,170 acres of land had been acquired for the Hattar Industrial Estate in Hazara Division, he said, adding that we are looking forward to Chinese companies to invest in this area and have already contacted them in this regard.

He said that herbal medicines plant and Qarshi are working in Hattar Industrial Zones and China is funding three projects and providing job opportunities to over 200 people in the area. The SDA chief said that 1,000 acres of land had been acquired on the borderline between Bannu and South Waziristan to set up Industrial and Economic Zone Bannu.

The Bannu Industrial Estate has been set up in view of the new road (26-km) being constructed from Gambela (Indus Highway) to Bannu linking Ghulam Khan (Pakistan) to Khost-Gardez (Afghanistan), he said, adding that these roads would create another trade route like the Torkham-Jalalabad Road.

He said that Peshawar being the gateway is expected to make optimum use of the enormous export potential in Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics, adding that economic activities had already been initiated with special focus on electronics, textile, steel, and marble industries.

Another industrial estate is going to be established at Jalozai (Nowshera) over an area of 258 acres of land that would have all the basic facilities like gas, electricity and telephone, he added.

When asked about the revival of sick industrial units in NWFP, Farid Khan said that the Gadoon Industrial Estate was not properly planned, but despite that currently more than 12,000 people are employed in it and is slowly reviving. He said that the assistance of the Chinese investors had also been sought in order to revive the Gadoon Industrial unit as we are seeking joint ventures in the project.

He said that Chinese are the most reliable and friendly