More industrial estates needed in Sialkot: SCCI

Vending industry is an integral part of export industry and there was a dire need of two to three industrial estates in Sialkot not only for accelerating the business activities in this export-oriented city and hub of cottage industry, but also accommodating the vending industry.
Cottage industries were spread in and around the city and were housed at residential places to create various problems of noise and environment pollution. The local government has also started a campaign against noise and environmental pollution, owing to which the vendors are being forced to shift away from residential areas, said President Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Ghulam Mustafa Chaudary.
Talking to media here Sunday he said that in order to cope with the situation we have been recommending for an another industrial estate to accommodate vendors and manufacturers who cannot afford buying a small piece of land for their manufacturing units and the existing places lack civic amenities, as well. Shifting of vendors to a specific zone is also important for pollution control, an industrial hazard.
The industrial performance is based on the teamwork involving in-house production and outsourcing to vendors. In this modern era it is vital to uplift and upgrade the facilities of these small vendors, so that they could provide quality products to the established exporters, he said.
He pointed out there is only one small industrial estate in Sialkot. There is need for well-planned small industrial estate with necessary infrastructure adding that a new industrial estate is important to cater the need of small, medium and micro level industry.
The government should pay special attention on it by allocating necessary funds for purchasing 25 to 30 acres of land to provide three and five marla plots to the small manufacturers/vendors, he said.
The SCCI President further said that timely action, in this regard, would greatly help in promotion of exports from the city, through cluster development and networking of the vendors and the government must help the export sector by providing a piece of land for small industrial estate.
Ghulam Mustafa further said that SCCI has always supported activities and issues related to the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and better working conditions in Sialkot industry.
The SCCI President said, "we would like to have the support of Federal government, international agencies, international brands and other stakeholders in strengthening and capacity building of industry".