Establishment of small industrial estate approved

LAHORE:The Punjab Small Industrial Estate Policy-2020, reorganisation plan of Punjab Small Industries Corporation and establishment of small industrial estate on 50 acres of land were approved on Wednesday.

The approval was granted in the 107th meeting of Punjab Small Industries Corporation Board chaired by Provincial Industries and Trade Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal. The proposal to grant approval for setting up artisan village on two acres of land for promoting local handicrafts at Taunsa Sharif also came under review during the meeting.

According to the Punjab Small Industrial Estate Policy, approval for selling plots in the estates was also granted. The buyers cannot dispose of the plots and they would be bound to start construction work within three months after purchase of plots and complete the project within 15 months.

The plots obtained for setting up industrial units in industrial estates will not be allowed to be used for any other purpose. Those plot owners whose period of completion had expired, they will be given 15 months for setting up units.

Those failing to establish units will be fined and allotment of plots will be cancelled in case of default. Such a plot on which partial construction is done within specified period of time and has been cancelled, the allottee will submit an application to a committee concerned which will decide it within 30 days. It has also been decided to abolish discretionary powers of officers along with waiving off fine on those plot owners who had previously failed to set up units. The board also decided to abolish fee amounting to Rs15,000 received for occupation of plot. Two years term has also been fixed for setting up industrial unit on a plot obtained in new small industrial estate. Transfer letter of plot will be given in five days and in case of failure, The regional director will be held responsible. Obtaining approval of board will be mandatory to set up new industrial estate anywhere in the province.

Mian Aslam Iqbal maintained that provision of facilities to the investors and industrialists was responsibility of the state and it would duly fulfil its responsibility. PSIC will be made an institution for provision of facilities to the investors instead of earning profit. He said that capacity-building of officers and officials would be enhanced through imparting training to them by restructuring PSIC. He said no official would be removed and their performance would be improved.

Aslam Iqbal directed that pace of work should be further escalated on the project of setting up industrial estate on Lahore-Sialkot Motorway. Industries and trade secretary, PSIC MD and other officers concerned also participated in the meeting.