LAHORE Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said promotion of industrial activities is the need of the hour for rapid progress because development of industrial sector can help in strengthening of economy and generation of job opportunities. The Sundar Industrial Estate is being made the best industrial estate of the country where all facilities will be available to the industrialists under one roof, he mentioned, adding that the foundation stone of industrial estate in Rahim Yar Khan would be laid on January 7, while foundation stone of industrial estate in Bhalwal would be laid soon as the government was implementing a comprehensive strategy for this purpose. He was presiding over meetings regarding promotion of industrial activities, setting up of new industrial estates and the Punjab Infrastructure Development Fund here on Thursday. Chairman CM Special Initiatives Entity Haroon Khawaja, Chairman Planning and Development Board, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Secretary Industries, Secretary Housing, Chairman Punjab Industrial Estates (PIE) and officers concerned were present. The meeting reviewed the pace of implementation of the decisions regarding setting up of new industrial estates in the province. The CM said the Punjab government had provided conducive atmosphere for promotion of industrial and trade activities and maximum facilities were being provided to industrialists and investors. The SIE is being transformed into a state-of-the-art industrial estate where all necessary facilities will be provided to entrepreneurs under one-window operation, and the departments concerned have started establishing their offices in the estate. The TEVTA has started setting up a modern skill development and vocational training centre in the SIE to produce skilled workforce in accordance with market needs, he said, adding that the establishment of industrial estate in Rahim Yar Khan was of vital importance as export of agri and dairy products could help in earning huge foreign exchange. He directed that livestock, dairy farming and food processing sectors should be given due importance in the RYK industrial estate and maximum incentives should be offered for investment. About Bhalwal, he said it was the house of citrus fruit and setting up of industrial estate in this area was of great significance. He added that work was also in progress on Star Farm Project with the cooperation of Metro. He directed that close coordination among the departments concerned be ensured for accelerating industrial and trade activities and these departments should hold meetings on fortnightly basis. He wanted that special attention should be paid to energy generation projects in new industrial estates. He opined that maladministration and corruption left a negative impact on industrial and trade activities in the past. He directed that immediate measures should be taken for blacklisting Ecowest Company in Punjab and it should be ensured that this company should not undertake any development project in the province in future. He mentioned that setting up new cities near motorway and steps should be taken on immediate basis for acquiring a large piece of land near Jhelum for setting up an industrial city, and wanted that due encouragement be extended to local as well as foreign investors and public-private partnership. Chief Executive Officer Punjab Industrial Estates gave a detailed briefing about the implementation of the instructions of CM regarding promotion of industrial activities and setting up of industrial estates in the province. Later, the CM while addressing a meeting regarding Punjab Infrastructure Development Fund, said PIDFC generation of additional resources was imperative for speedy development of the province large resources could be developed for generating further resources, and the PIDFC was being set up for this purpose. The company will be autonomous and will take steps for development of resources. The PIDFC will promote commercial activities. The Park & Ride project is an example for generation of additional resources to be spent on infrastructure development, he added.