For establishment new Small Industrial Zone II - 700 acre land approved - Dawn

 700 acre selected for small industrial zone

SAHIWAL: The divisional administration has succeeded in approving 700 acre agriculture piece of land near village 85/9-L, Bunga Hayat Road for establishment new Small Industrial Zone II.

The land acquisition matter was a matter of dispute between the Sahiwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and local divisional administration for the last two years.

Khawar Shahzad, Director Development, told Dawn that after long consultation with many stakeholders the land had been selected and soon it would be acquired by giving payment to local land owners.

Sahiwal has one industrial zone for small cottageindustry and the manufacturers and traders are demanding establishment of another facility to accommodate growing needs of local business. The demand was formulated by the SCCI and it was pushed earlier by local PML-N parliamentarians and now PTI local politicians.

Mr Shahzad said the issue was to select a suitable piece of land where industrial needs of local businesses could also be fulfilled that include provision of gas, electricity and road infrastructure. The commissioner office established a high-level committee headed by director development.

The director development said survey of many places were done including land at Mauza Bhawani, Madhali Road, area near coal-fired power plant on Bunga Hayat Road. The committee has members from Mepco, SNGPL, Small Industrial Zone I and SCCLThe director development confirmed that all stakeholders agreed and now land would be purchased after evaluation of price. He assured land owners would be paid a better price than the open market.

On other hand local, the Divisional Coordination Committee (DCC) approved 73 development projects having financial value of Rs708 million. The development projects were approved under Phase III, Community Development Program run with the financial assistance of the provincial government.

The director development said development schemes had been approved for Sahiwal, Okara and Pakpattan. Most schemes are about civic and road infrastructure of urban and rural localities.

Commissioner Nadir Chattha directed the officials of the Local Government, Public Health and Highway department to accomplish schemes.

Dawn 1 May 2021