Ahmed Khan Malik

The Sindh government has established the Directorate of Industries to facilitate industrialists in speedy approval of their building plans through one-window operation. "The directorate's key objective is to expedite building plan approvals within 30 days of submission of title documents," said Mushtaq Ibrahim Soomro, the Directorate of Industries Director.  Additionally, he said the directorate also planned to facilitate online submission of maps. Ibrahim Soomro said that the establishment of the Directorate of Industries marked a significant step towards addressing the challenges faced by industrialists in Karachi. "Stakeholders have expressed optimism about its potential positive impact on the local industry." He said that the directorate had been established to remove impediments in the way of industrial growth in the province.  "Karachi industrialists had long been voicing concern over such problems," he said. 

Meanwhile, President of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (Kati) Johar Qandhari hailed the formation of the Directorate of Industries and urged Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to conduct awareness sessions to educate the industrialists about the relevant laws. He said that it had been Kati's longstanding demand for a separate Directorate of Industries. He said industrialists attached great expectations to the directorate that it would simplify the cumbersome procedures and regulations, hindering the growth of the cottage industry. Kati's standing committee chairman, Farhan-ur-Rehman, stressed the need for a systematic approach and consistent policy implementation to ensure robust industrial and economic growth. President of Site Association of Industry (SAI) Muhammad Kamran Arbi stressed the importance of ensuring uninterrupted utility services for smooth industrial operations.

He called for the government to ensure an uninterrupted supply of gas, electricity and water to industries. He also asked for implementing the regionally competitive utility rates to support industrial growth.  Kamran Arbi also suggested putting in place a mechanism to streamline industrialists' interactions with the more than 65 federal and provincial departments. He also underscored the promotion of e-commerce to save time and transportation costs. He urged the government to ensure law and order in Karachi and formulate an industrial policy with inputs from all stakeholders, especially industrialists, to address industry challenges on a priority basis. Salahuddin Qureshi, an industrialist, called for revamping the road infrastructure in all the industrial zones of Sindh, including Karachi and Hyderabad. "Poor road conditions contribute to increased transportation costs, affecting productivity." Qureshi suggested emulating a successful model for the Bangladesh Planning Commission to resolve the issue swiftly.

INP: Credit: INP-WealthPk