Sindh Government Prioritizes Business Community, Pledges Support for Industrial Growth

KARACHI: The Sindh government has reiterated its commitment to fostering industrial growth and supporting the business community, with Sindh Minister for Information and Transport Sharjeel Inam Memon emphasizing the need for enhanced facilities to boost the provincial economy. Speaking at a meeting with industrialists from the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Memon highlighted the significance of addressing transport-related grievances and ensuring representation for KATI in all government meetings on urban transport.

Memon underscored the importance of agriculture in sustaining the economy and noted the Sindh government’s efforts in providing fertilizer subsidies to support farmers. He mentioned the federal government’s approval of the wheat support price, a move that transformed Pakistan from an importer to an exporter of wheat.

The meeting, attended by KATI President Muhammad Ikram Rajput and other key industry figures, also touched on the limitations imposed by IMF restrictions on establishing new Special Economic Zones (SEZs). Despite these challenges, Memon highlighted the international recognition of the Khairpur SEZ and the strategic significance of the Dhabeji Economic Zone within the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Rajput praised the Sindh government’s advancements in public transport, comparing systems in Karachi and Hyderabad to those in London. He called for the creation of new industrial zones and the implementation of a one-window operation system to address institutional challenges faced by industrialists.

KATI Deputy Patron-in-Chief Zubair Chhaya highlighted the need for infrastructure improvements and urged the government to address issues like the pending flyover project at Star Gate. He also stressed the importance of integrating industrial zone representatives into the Sindh Government’s monitoring committee to expedite infrastructure projects.

The discussion concluded with calls for collaboration between KATI and the government to promote industrialization, recognizing Karachi’s growth as pivotal to Pakistan’s economic progress.