Ahmed Khan Malik

Larkana Small Industrial Estate will be made functional shortly to boost industrialization and create job opportunities for the local population, said Kher Muhammad Sheikh, Special Assistant to the Government of Sindh.

Talking to WealthPK, he said the Small Industrial Estate will employ the area youth, reducing the burden on the government to provide jobs. Besides, the estate will help promote industrialization and economic growth in the upper part of the province, as the industry is so far concentrated in the south, mainly in Karachi, the provincial capital.

The establishment of Larkana Small Industrial Estate is a precursor to economic and social change in the area, he said, adding that the chief minister had directed the authorities concerned to speed up work on gas connection to the estate so that plots could be allotted to the industrialists.

According to the Sindh Industry Department officials, the energy department had been directed to pay Rs326 million to the Sui Southern Gas Company as challan for the provision of gas to the industrial estate. The land utilization department has also been directed to transfer the title of Larkana Small Industrial Estate to the SITE Limited so that the process of allotment of industrial plots could be initiated.

The industrial estate was inaugurated by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in January 2021, and now the estate land’s title has to be transferred to start the plot allotment process. The estate has been established over an area of 500 acres in Deh Samano, Bakrani taluka, Larkana district. Its groundbreaking ceremony was performed in December 2009.

Established at a cost of Rs2.4 billion, the estate has 94 industrial plots of one acre and 20 commercial plots of 1,000 square yards, while 95.41 acres have been earmarked for other facilities.  Ninety percent work on the project has been completed and procurement of fire tenders, ambulances, tractors, trollies and security vehicles is in process. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has approved an amount of Rs326 million for gas connection.

The chief minister has directed the energy minister to expedite work on the gas connection so that the process of plot allotment could be started, officials said. There has been a demand for the development and promotion of local industries, particularly in the fields of consumer products. The industrialization process will help eradicate unemployment, poverty and crimes and contribute superbly to micro and macroeconomic development in the agriculture, industry and export sectors. 

The Industry Department Officials told WealthPK that the seed, guava, fruit and dairy milk processing plants, animal feed unit, ghee/oil mill, biscuit factory, soap (all types), washing powder, toothpaste and pharmaceutical manufacturing units, electric fan and small electric tools manufacturing plants could be set up at the estate. Raw materials, manpower, utilities, transport, bank financing, and other facilities are available here to set up industries.

Credit: INP-WealthPk