LAHORE: On the demand of Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), Lahore Development Authority (LDA) will declare the major city roads as industrial corridors that will improve industrialization as well as increase employment opportunities and reduce undue interference of departments.
The LCCI Senior Vice President Almas Hyder stated this after attending a high profile meeting of the Provincial Working Group on Ease of Doing Business here at Civil Secretariat.
Secretary Excise & Taxation Dr Ahmed Bilal, DG Excise & Taxation Akram Ashraf Gondal, P&D Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, LDA Director Chaudhry Muhammad Akram and World Bank officials attened the meeting.
Almas Hyder said that declaration of major roads as industrial corridors would be a big breakthrough in the sense of promotion of trade and economic activities in the province.
It was longstanding demand of Lahore Chamber and its Pesident Sheikh Muhammad Arshad and Vice President Nasir Saeed deserved appreciation for extending their full support to the idea.
He also presented a number of proposals that were prepared after due consultation with the stakeholders. He said, the LCCI had formulated doable proposals keeping in view the recent trend of growth in industrialization in and around Lahore division, and possibility of further industrialization in future due to enhanced economic cooperation between Pakistan and China.
Almas Hyder proposed that Lahore Development Authority should expand the ndustrial zoning of Lahore Division and declare 5000 meters land as industrial zone on both sides of the major roads as hundreds of large and small scale industries had already been established in and around Lahore Division. These industries get approvals and utility connections from different government departments including LESCO, WASA and SNGPL after completing all legal procedures.
The LDA should include new changes in Master Plan of Lahore Division 2015 through its notification for Lahore-Raiwind Road, Manga-Raiwind Road, Khana Katcha Road, Sundar-Raiwind Road, Raiwind-Laliani Road, Lahore-Multan Road upto Pattoki, Lahore Ring Road, Bund Road Lahore, Lahore-Kasur Road, Hudriya Drain Ferozeur Road, Rohi Nala Road, Rohi Nala Bypass, Ali Akbar Road, Bhogiwala Road, Lahore-Sheikhupura-Faisalabad Road, Sheikhpura-Muridke Road, Sheikhupura-Sharaqpur Road, Lahore-Jaranwala Road, Nankana Road, Lahore Shaddra Road, G.T. Road upto Gujranwala, Kala Khattai Road, Kot Arein Jia Bagga Road, Allahbad Chunian Road, Sue-e-Aasal Road upto Mir Mohammad via Khurpa Chak, Depalpur Road, Raiwind Kasur Road via Raja Jhang and Kattar Band Road.
Almas Hyder said that LDA should declare 5000 meter land as industrial zone on both sides of above mentioned roads and should not charge commercialization fee from existing industrial units.
He said that in order to accelerate the industrialization in Punjab and maximum facilitation for our potential investors, LCCI also submit following proposals to Lahore Development Authority and Industries and Commerce department, Government of the Punjab for consideration and implementation.
The LCCI Senior Vice President said that new Industrial Zones/Estates and clusters should be established away from the densely populated residential areas i.e alongside motorway or major roads to accommodate for relocation of industry from residential areas.
The area around Ring Road Lahore could also be utilized for this purpose and these new Industrial Estates would not only cater for our future Industrial growth requirements but also help control establishment of industrial units in residential areas.
He said that cost of land in the proposed Industrial Zones/Estates should be substantially less than the cost of land in the urban areas.
He said that the proposed Industrial Zones/Estates should have better environmental conditions i.e. wastewater treatment, roads to deal with traffic congestion and other safety measures as outlined ahead in the industrial safety strategy.
The SVP said that Phase-wise establishment of industrial parks of up to 500 acres in each district over a period of five years. At least five districts may be selected every year according to present and future needs for building industrial estates.
He said that Punjab Industrial Estates Development & Management Company (PIEDMC) should take steps to utilize the reasonably available space in the existing Export Processing Zone and Industrial estates i.e. Sundar Industrial Estate for relocation of hazardous industries.
He said that new Industrial Estates may be established through public private partnership. Private sector land developers may be motivated to establish new industrial estates.
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