National Industrial Policy in final phase
Focus to be on HR development: Durrani
Gwadar to become industrial hub
Ashraf Ansari
Interview
Islamabad—Minister of State for Industries, Dr Ayat Ullah Durrani says the government is giving final touches to new National Industrial Policy (NIP). The NIP would be launched in a few months.
Durrani said this, in an exclusive interview with Pakistan Observer here Thursday.
He said, Industrial development in he country lacked vision on several counts: “Industrial units were established on fertile land which affected agriculture in several ways.
Long coastline was ignored which could have been dotted with industries. There was no vision about HR development and housing of the workers close to the workplace”.
Durrani said “We are learning from pitfalls and lack of vision in the past as well as from success stories of other countries including China, Malaysia and Singapore”.Touching on salient features of the forthcoming NIP, he said, “Our vision is to prioritise issues relating to Industrialization. First priority would be to revive sick industrial units numbering several hundreds.
New industrial units would be located keeping in view availability of raw materials and closeness to the sea to economise on transport costs. He visualized setting up of Industrial Complexes on basis of public-private brainstorming and self-sustenance like the Karachi Steel. There would be stress on providing housing and other facilities to the workers near the industrial units. Vocational training centres will be set up close to the industries. “Our vision is to create a work-force, well trained, highly productive and enjoying a decent life”.
Regarding prospects of industrial development of Balochistan, the MoS said, Gawadar would emerge as a new Industrial hub of the country. “There are bright chances of new industrial units coming up in other parts of the province too”. Regarding energy needs of the country, Durrani said, Several dams are being built in the country, especially Balochistan with Chinese financial and technical assistance. “In Balochistan alone 500,000 acres of land would be irrigated by the new dams to be completed in a couple of years”.
To a question the MoS said, the brave Armed Forces of the country will be able to complete the task of crushing militancy in a few months with the support of the people.
He hoped the law and order situation would be normalized as a result of military action against terrorists. He was confidant that political stability would be in the reach of the government as a result of constitutional amendment to be effective within a few days. He pointed out that industrial development could only be possible in atmosphere of internal peace and political stability.
