PM wants ‘culture of strikes in Karachi’ to end

• Sharif says strikes adversely affect industrial sector and commerce
• PM inaugurates country’s largest oil refinery in Balochistan’s Hub

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Friday that the culture of strikes in Karachi should be discouraged as it adversely affects the industrial sector and commerce.

He was addressing a function of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) in Karachi.

Sharif said the government would consider the proposal to waive off duties on import of new plants and machinery, adding that the duties can be recovered when the plant becomes operational.

He announced that a business council would be formed to discuss problems and issues relating to industry and commerce, adding that it will meet regularly under his chairmanship, and hopefully become instrumental in boosting growth and exports.

The premier said work is about to begin on the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway, which would later be extended to Sukkur, Multan, Lahore and Peshawar. He also said his government is making efforts to connect Pakistan with Central Asian States. Sharif said construction of Gwadar-Quetta-Chaman and Kandhar route would open Balochistan to development.

He said that two power plants of 330 MW each are to be established in Thar which would use Thar coal. He said the ultimate objective of his government is to eliminate load shedding and bring down electricity prices.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sharif inaugurated Byco Oil Refinery, the country’s largest oil refinery, in Balochistan’s Hub region.

The premier was received in Karachi on Friday morning by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah before he departed for Hub to attend the ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister termed the set up of the oil refinery in Balochistan an “important milestone”.

He said the oil refinery will lead to economic development in the province and provide employment opportunities to the citizens. The premier said oil and gas are the most important of all natural resources.

He said some $750 million will be invested in the second phase of the oil refinery project, adding that 22 million tonnes of oil was currently being used in the country. He said the oil refinery will help reduce country’s dependence on the import of petroleum products by over 50 per cent. “It will take time to reach the level of self-sufficiency.”

The prime minister said Gwadar would be made the first free-port of Pakistan which would be connected with Central Asia. He said work on the motorway from Gwadar to Quetta and onward to Ratto Dero is underway.