Due to saturation of current industrial estates and non-availability of a new industrial estate in Islamabad, many investors of Potohar region were shifting to other places. Therefore, Punjab Industrial Estate should provide its support for setting up of a new industrial estate in this region.
This was observed by Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry while exchanging views with Maj. Gen. (Retd) Javed Iqbal, CEO of Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company during his visit to ICCI. He suggested Nila Dulla Interchange near Chakri on motorway in District Chakwal as the best place for setting up new industrial estate as this area offered land at a very affordable cost. He said the industrial estate would bring prosperity, reduce poverty and create plenty of job opportunities for the people of this backward area. He said ICCI was already working for industrial estate in this area and Punjab Industrial Estates should collaborate with us for early execution of this project.
Bakhtawari said that Potohar Region had neither agriculture nor any other natural resources while the population of twin cities was growing fast. Thus encouraging industrialization in this area was the best option to create jobs and promote economic activities. He said Potohar Region also offered easy access to Afghanistan, China and Central Asian States and industrial estate in this area would promote exports of Pakistan to these countries.
Maj Gen (r) Javed Iqbal, CEO, Punjab Industrial Estates (PIE) briefed business community about the PIE role. He said PIE was focused on developing a chain of industrial estates by capitalizing on proposed & existing industrial and agricultural strengths of Punjab and Pakistan. He said industrialization was the future of Pakistan and government should give top priority to addressing energy problems for promotion of industry in the country.
