President Asif Ali Zardari Thursday said the government was committed to taking the industry onboard to find a solution to their problems. Talking to a delegation of Pakistan Sugar Mills Association, led by its Chairman Javed A. Kayani at Aiwan-e-Sadr, he said only through pro-active involvement of the business community and the industrialists, the continuity of the policies could be ensured. The President while advising the Government to hold a meeting with PSMA said that the proposal of exporting sugar be sent to ECC for consideration. He said it was a matter of great satisfaction that despite unprecedented natural calamities, the country was in position to not only meet its requirements in sugar commodities but was also poised to export sugar. The President advised Ch. Pervaiz Elahi, Senior Minister for Defence Production and Industry to hold meeting with the PSMA to further deliberate on the proposal and issues, being faced by the industry. The delegation included Iskander M Khan, Riaz Qadeer Butt and Deoomal A. Essarani. Ch. Pervaiz Elahi, Senior Minister for Defence Production and Industry, Finance Minister Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Secretary Finance Wajid Rana, Secretary Industries M. Aziz Bilour and Chairman TCP Tahir Raza Naqvi were also present besides other senior officials. The issues related to sugar industry were discussed in the meeting. Javed A. Kayani, Chairman PSMA, while briefing the President said at present the sugar production in the country was around 4.7 million tons. He said after meeting the domestic consumption of 4.2 million tons, around 400,000 tons of sugar was available for export. He said that export of sugar would enable them to make payments to the growers in the region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh.He also raised the issue of the sales tax on the sugar commodity.
MoP to steel PSM against capitulation
KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
Ministry of Production (MoP) is fully working to save Pakistan Steel as it is our pride and the most important mega asset of Pakistan.President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime MInister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani both are satisfied with the progress of current PSM, Chief Executive Officer Major General (r) Mohammad Javed, as his previous achievments are remarkable and now it is fully hoped that he will again create a history of success.Federal Minister of Production Chaudhry Anwer Ali Cheema said these words while chairing in a special meeting with PSM board of Directors, here at PIDC board room, yesterday.
He said, It is our first priority to run PSM successfully, Members of the board are skilled, well experienced professionals and it is their responsibility to provide guidelines and policy to the CEO for running the Mill.He said that CEO has full powers to endorse his orders for the betterment of the organization.He added that in the next month board meeting a chairman for the PSM board will be elected to run the board matters smoothly.
Federal State Minister for Production Khwaja Mohammad Sheeraz also attended the meeting, while newly apppointed CEO, Pakistan Steel Major Gen.Mohammad Javed HI-M (retd), Parliamentary Secretary for Production Dr. Mehreen Razzaq Bhutto, Secretary Production Gul Muhammad Rind, Secretary Privatization Amjad Ali Khan, Additional Secretary (Development, Expansion, Admn) Seerat Asghar, former Fed Secretary (Labour & Manpower)Nayyar Hasnain Haider, Eng. Daroo Khan Achakzai, Engineer Abdul Jabbar Memon, MIrza Aslam Baig, PS Chief Finance Officer Shahid Mohsin Sheikh and Pakistan Steel Peoples Workers Union -CBA Shamshad Qureshi as member board of Directors were also present. Federal Minister Anwer Ali Cheema said that ministry is following and in contact with finance ministry for the release of remaining 5 billion Rupees of approved bailout package from 11 Billion for running PSM matters. CEO, Pakistan Steel Major Gen.Mohammad Javed(r) honored and gave thanks to the Minister and Board of Directors for their co-operation, satisfaction and confidence. He said that we will trying to run PSM on self reliance basis as our land bears a big treasure of iron ore and coal which is waiting for utilization. He said the remedy for previous wrong decisions will also be taken so that again they are not repeated. Secretary Production Gul Mohammad Rind said that the Ministry of Production will fully support and co operate for the betterment of PSM. Parliamentary Secretary for Production Dr. Mehreen Razzaq Bhutto also expressed the appointment of CEO as a shining hope for PSM in coming days. After the meeting a 5 member delegation of Pakistan Steel Peoples workers Union –CBA headed by Chairman CBA Shamshad Qureshi meets the Federal Minister Anwer Ali Cheema.