'Allotment in Jalozai estate within six months'

The government of NWFP will start allotment of plots in Jalozai Industrial Estate within six months, sources in Sarhad Development Authority (SDA) told Business Recorder on Monday.
It said that initially the SDA would have to launch development of infrastructure in the 270 acres land acquired for the purpose of establishing an industrial estate. The process of development of basic infrastructure, like the construction of roads inside the estate, would be completed in a period of six months.
The interested investors would be provided multiple plots measuring from one acre to 40 acres for the purpose of the establishment of industrial unit.
The site of the proposed industrial estate has been divided into different sectors, like furniture, marble, pharmaceuticals, information technology (IT) and textile.
In this connection, when Business Recorder contacted Abdul Hameed Awan, Manager Estates, SDA, he said that the provincial government had already paid the price of the land and is going to invite parties in few months.
He said that besides acquiring land in Jalozai, the provincial government has also acquired 185 acres for the extension of Nowshera Industrial Estate. He said that according to the new industrial policy of the province, the industrial units would be given 25 percent relief in electricity consumption. However, he said that for this purpose, an Investment Facilitation Committee (IFC) has been constituted to identify the industrial units.
Mr Awan informed this scribe that three parties had already applied for seeking plots in the industrial estate. One of the interested parties is Osaka Corporation, local motorcycle assemblers manufacturing motorbikes in co-operation with a Chinese firm. The parties have applied for 10 acres plot each.
JOINT VENTURES: The manager estates, SDA also informed that the provincial government was also interested in joining hands with private sector for initiating joint ventures on the pattern of Sunder Industrial Estate of Punjab. He said that the provincial government had already sanctioned a handsome amount of Rs 35 million for the development of infrastructure in the existing industrial estates in the province.
He said that the sanctioned amount would be spent on bringing improvement in the infrastructure in Hattar, Hayatabad, Gadoon and Nowshera industrial estates.
In response to a question about acquiring land for the establishment of industrial estate in Malakand Agency, he said that it would be materialised after completion of the Malakand III Hydropower generation project.
The industrial units of the proposed estate would be provided subsidised electricity from the Malakand-III project. However, a high-level committee would determine the eligibility and modalities with representation from the private sector.
Meanwhile, the provincial department of industries has started work on the identification of industrial units to be given 25 per cent subsidy in electricity consumption. In this connection, the department has already prepared a working paper, which would be presented in the investment facilitation committee for approval.