The government in the next financial year 2011-12 has set growth rate at 3.7 percent for manufacturing sector as a whole, while growth rates for large scale and small scale manufacturing have been determined at 2.0 and 7.5 percent, respectively.
According to the Annual Plan 2011-12, issued by the Planning Commission (PC), the Ministry of Industries and Production, industries which are to be prioritised and fostered will include chemicals, automobile, pharmaceutical, electronics, leather products, paper and boards, and non-metallic minerals.
In order to support the textile sector, the driver of economic growth and the star performer of the current export boom; it is deemed necessary that ancillary industries be bolstered such as textile machinery manufacturing, textile dyes and chemicals and other accessory industries. Presently, most of the requirement of the sector is met through imports. Promotion of joint ventures with leading international brands is also needed, the plan stressed.
According to the plan, an allocation of Rs2,030 million has been earmarked for industry sector in the year 2011-12 in roughly 43 development projects.
The plan also indicates that major projects will be implemented in the industrial sector during 2010-11. These include establishment of eight advanced computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) training centers (Rs321.1 million), a ceramics development and training complex (Rs314.5 million), establishment of the Pakistan Gem and Jewellery Development Company (Rs1,400 million), development of the marble and granites sector all over Pakistan (Rs1,980 million), Sports Industries Development Center in Sialkot (Rs435.64 million), Agro Food Processing Facilities in Multan (Rs288.920 million), Export Processing Zones and Area Development in Balochistan, including Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) (Rs4,000 million) and BMRE of Heavy Mechanical Complex Taxila (Rs23,428.2 million).
An additional allocation of Rs414 million has been committed for the Textile sub-sector for 2011-12, for the Ministry of Textile Industry. Prominent projects to be launched in the relevant timeframe include the Lahore Garment City Company (Rs497.6 million), Faisalabad Garment City (Rs 498.8 million), the provision and laying of a dedicated 48-inch diameter mild steel water main for Textile City (Rs636.6 million) and the Pak-Korea Garment Technology Training Institute in Karachi (Rs300 million).
It is also noted that an amount of Rs500 million has been allocated for commerce sector for 2011-12 for the Ministry of Commerce. Major projects to be initiated during 2011-12 include the purchase of equipment, furnishing, curriculum development and training in the Pakistan School of Fashion Design in Lahore (Rs755.7 million), Trade and Transport Facilities Project-2 Trade & Transport Facilitation Unit (TTFU) in MOC (Rs360 million, restructuring of Pakistan Institute of Trade and Development formerly Foreign Trade Institute of Pakistan (Rs270.8 million), Program Management Unit (PMU) for setting up of Regional Reconstruction Opportunity Zones for Trade in FATA, NWFP, Baluchistan and AJK (Rs77.4 million).