Revival strategy: Industrialisation takes a nosedive amid apathy from provincial government

FPCCI officials say provincial govt must take immediate measures to save industries from destruction

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed a decline in industrialisation over the past few years due to which unemployment has increased manifold.

It widely believed the K-P government needs to facilitate the local business community and improve the infrastructure to revamp industries in the province. In addition, the provincial government must also address grievances of investors and the business community to boost the economic growth and overcome the crisis.

Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Vice President Muhammad Riaz Khattak and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Business Advisory Committee’s General Secretary Muhammad Adnan Jalil have urged the government to take steps on a priority basis for the revival of closed or sick industrial units.



Speaking to The Express Tribune, the provincial government should start one-window operation service. They added it must follow a policy of appointing the right man for the right job in the board of investment to attract investors.

According to the officials, the government must facilitate those local industrialists whose industries have been shut down due to lack of facilities so that new job opportunities can be created.

They urged the provincial government to make K-P Advisory Committee an independent and autonomous body.

The officials said facilitating new industries will affect the old units and there is a possibility that old industries might shut down.

Opening new doors

The FPCCI officials said around 110 industries have been closed in Hattar Industrial Estate while the roads in Hayatabad Industrial Estate are also in a deplorable state as a result of official neglect. They said it was investment seemed impossible in the current circumstances.

They said many opportunities are available in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for investment in agriculture, hydel and tourism sectors as long as the government takes concrete measures to boost business in the province.

In addition, they said K-P lacks hot water treatment plant for exporting fruit and vegetables resulting in decline in exports from 100 tonnes to 40 tonnes. However, if such a treatment plant is installed in Peshawar, then exports will double. This will benefit not only farmers but also all those associated with agriculture, they added.

The officials told The Express Tribune introducing reforms in the police, health and education sectors alone will not bring change in the region. On the contrary, reforms must be introduced in all the fields, including business and industries.

Lack of cooperation

However, the business community is of the view the provincial government and bureaucracy are not cooperating with the investors, compelling them to invest in foreign countries such as Dubai and Malaysia.

“Industrialists are being bugged on petty issues as a result of which a decline is seen in businesses and unemployment is increasing,” Khattak said. “However, the FPCCI is trying to bridge the differences between the government and the business community.”

He questioned, “If the government could facilitate the investors in the CPEC Project then why can it not facilitate its own local business community?”

He added if the government provides the same facilities to local business community then there will be no reason the businesses will not flourish in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Khattak added, “The provincial government must improve the infrastructure in the industrial states, provide loans and introduce reform packages for local businessmen so that their industries and businesses could also be prevented from sinking.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2016.