Govt to establish edible oil city at Port Qasim

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has invited vanaspati manufacturers to set up an edible oil industrial city at Port Qasim.

Addressing members of the Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturing Association (PVMA) after inaugurating its house on Friday, the minister said the government would facilitate the industry in setting up the proposed zone and provide the necessary facilities at Port Qasim.

According to a statement, Chaudhry said the edible oil industry is among the major contributors to government revenue, with the sector generating substantial customs duty and sales tax from imports.

He said the government was intending to develop industrial and commercial zones at the port to attract investment and promote manufacturing and exports.

The minister said an automotive processing zone would be established on 150 acres at Port Qasim, with the capacity to be expanded in phases in line with market demand.

He said a 250-acre apparel zone was also planned at the port. Its first phase was projected to create more than 138,000 jobs and generate annual exports of around $2.2 billion.

The minister said issues relating to land at Port Qasim had been taken up and would be resolved over time. Land would be allotted to investors who came forward with viable business plans, he added.

Referring to the water shortage at Port Qasim, Chaudhry said a seawater treatment plant could be established under a business model in collaboration with the Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturing Association (PVMA), with treated water reused at the port.

He invited the PVMA to participate in the proposed project, saying the association could work with Port Qasim to establish and operate a system to meet the water requirements of industries operating at the port.

The minister said the government was seeking greater private-sector participation in the development of facilities and industrial activity at Port Qasim.