Traders seeks goods' export to CARs via Afghanistan

Frontier Post

PESHAWAR (Online) - Frontier's traders and industrialists have demanded of the government that they be allowed to export goods to Central Asian Republics (CARs) via Afghanistan. The demand was made in a meeting of Jamrud Industrial Estate Association (JIEA) with NWFP Minister for Commerce and Industry Owais Ahmed Ghani at Peshawar Industrial Estate (PIE) on Thursday. The meeting was also attended by Secretary Industry, president Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Faiz Rasool Khan, chairman Jamrud Industrialists Association (JIEA) Malik Sajjad Gul and other members of the association. Speaking on the occasion, Owais Ghani assured the association that the military set up was interested in resolving all the genuine problems of the traders and industrialist community. He said that the government wanted to make the province an industrial citadel. He said that investors have vast opportunities for investment. "Nature has blessed the Frontier province with immense resources and potentialities so it was time to utilise these resources in proper way," Owais Ghani said. He informed the industrialists that the government was working on new industrial policy and it would be announced soon in which more incentives are to be given to the agriculture, hydal power generation and industrial sectors.

Owais Ahmad Ghani said that the Workers Welfare Board would be reorganised and funds are also to be allocated for the welfare of the labour community. He pointed out that the board annually awards 300 scholarships for workers but the labourers were kept unaware of their right. Similarly, he said the province had no representation in the board at the central level, therefore, the industrialists should nominate a dedicated person for the seat. Highlighting the industrialist's demands and problems, JIEA pointed out that Peshawar was considered a gateway to Central Asian States and the area has great potential to occupy the Central Asian market. Therefore, the government should allow the local traders and industrialists to export their goods to Central Asian States via Afghanistan. The JIEA demanded of the government to direct the authorities concerned to provide a piece of land, free of cost, for constructing office, conference hall and a guesthouse. The minister was informed that outsiders and unauthorised residents have occupied the labour colony of the Industrial Estate. It was demanded the unauthorised residents be evicted from the colony and handed over to the genuine labourers. The meeting also demanded the cancellation of the closed quarters. IT asked for reorganisation of Workers Welfare Board, proper arrangements for the disposal of solid waste from the industrial area, improve social security system, renaming Jamrud Industrial Estate as Peshawar Industrial Estate and direct Sarhad Development Authority to waive interest on delay of payment.