RECORDER REPORT

MULTAN: Federal Secretary for Industries and Production Khizar Hayat Gondal has assured that a full-fledged regional office of Smeda would be established in Multan to facilitate the people of Southern Punjab.

He also stressed the need for increasing the contribution of Industry to the country's GDP by taking far -reaching steps. Currently, the industrial sector contributes to around 20.8 percent to the GDP, and is also a major source of tax revenue for the government apart from contributing significantly in creating job opportunities.

Speaking in the meeting of Multan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) chaired by Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi Gondal said:"The government has planned and implemented comprehensive policy measures on fast track to revive the economy, as a result industrial sector started revival and recorded remarkable growth at 5.8 percent as compared to 1.4 percent in last year." He said that present regime believed in free market economy and ministry of industries and production was conveying the voice of entrepreneurs, industrialists and traders to the Government to resolve their problems. The secretary urged the assemblers to increase deletion of auto parts as auto assemblers having achieved localization of 60-70 percent components still pay higher amount on the balance 30-40 percent imported components.

In his address Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi said that new industrial estates must be developed in southern Punjab like upper Punjab and export processing zone be established in Multan. A help desk of SMEDA be established in Multan chamber to facilitate the people, he demanded.