Despite the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led coalition government’s initiatives for the revival of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)’s industrial sector, experts and industrialists said on Wednesday that unless a policy was chalked according to the wishes and expectations of all stakeholders, no one could ensure industrialisation in the region.
During a debate on the industrial sector of KP, KP Chamber of Commerce former vice president Zahidullah Shinwari said if the KP government wanted to revive the industrial sector, it should establish a body like the Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management (PIEDM) in the province.
The debate was arranged by Pakistan Television (PTV) Peshawar center with Shams Mohmand as its moderator.
The KP government was represented by Industries Director Zakaullah Khattak. The media was represented by Shamim Shahid of Pakistan Today.
During the debate, discrepancies were noted in the data of the provincial government and industrialists. Zakaullah said around 2,300 industrial units were registered in the province out of which 480 were closed or dysfunctional. However, Shinwari said the total number of industrial units was 1,850 and 1,200 of them were closed or dead He said that ratio of closed and dead units was around 7o percent.
Referring to the steps being taken by the PTI government in KP for reviving the industrial sector, Zakaullah said working groups had held meetings and in two months, its members would finalise the recommendations. He said so far, the government “plans to initiate united and coordinated efforts for the revival of the industrial sector”.
During the debate, the Punjab government and the Sharif brothers came under severe criticism for banning the supply of wheat to KP and for the withdrawal of incentives, especially SRO 517 pertaining to Gadoon Industrial Estate.
It was said that the Sharif brothers were willing to supply wheat-flour to KP but did not allow the supply of wheat as it could be ground in KP mills.
“The federal-government controlled functionaries like the Federal Board of Revenue, customs, Exports Promotion Bureau and others are making complications for the KP industrialists, entrepreneurs and exporters rather than resolving their miseries,” it was said.
The participants urged the government, industrialists, investors and politicians to unite for the early revival of the industrial sector otherwise no one could combat the growing trends of unemployment and economic disorder in this region.
They urged the government to ensure maximum benefits from consumer markets in Afghanistan, adding that it was only possible by ending violence and entering into an era of trust with the people of Afghanistan.