PESHAWAR - After announcing Provincial Mineral Policy, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has formally approved the formulation of industrial policy for the province.
For this purpose, he while constituting a committee comprising industrialists, bureaucrats, consultants and experts was given a deadline of one month for the preparation of the first industrial policy draft. The decision, he said, besides the recommendations of concerned task force has been made while taking into consideration the demands of industrialists and trading community.
He made it clear that the PTI-led coalition government along with effective legislation in all sectors will frame comprehensive policies for each of them to enable the province to march forward in organised manner like developed countries and leave no deficiency or lacunas in this regard. He expressed the hope that the committee will work round-the-clock to frame a comprehensive policy in which besides, industries, labour and manpower, targets in development of mineral, environment, energy, transport, tourism, sports and other social sectors will also be fixed.
The chief minister was presiding over a meeting relating to the drafting of industrial policy here at the CM Secretariat, which besides, the administrative secretaries of the departments of finance, planning and development, industries, labour, energy, housing and other officials of ther concerned departments was also attended by president KPCCI Zahidullah Shinwari, Engineer Nauman Wazir, Riaz Arshad, other representatives of industrialists and traders and presented their proposals and suggestions regarding the policy.
Pervez Khattak said that industrialisation is crucial for us, which besides the alleviation of backwardness, poverty and abolition of unemployment could also guarantee economic prosperity in the province. He said that though due to ill-conceived policies and wrongdoings Khyber Pakhutnkhwa is rendered was no more feasible for industries and the remaining industries are also on verge of closure. However, he said his govt will not allow it to happen and in this regard it had decided to take some fundamental steps.
Furthermore, he said that PTI-led coalition government is considering for the taking of trading and industrialist community into confidence necessary in this regard. He said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is abolishing red-tapism in public sector organisations and in future all government departments will provide one-window operation to take measures with immediate effect to facilitate he industrialist and investors.
He said that now it is also the responsibility of industrialists to come forward and extend cooperation to us.

The chief minister said that the government is taking sincere measures for guaranteeing the abolition of corruption, change of system, supremacy of merit, justice and law in the province to put all sectors, including business on the track of progress and development. He said that the people have big expectations from the PTI-led coalition government, which he said would be accomplished at any cost. He said that though KP has lost industrial attraction. However, he said the government is taking serious measures for bringing industrial revolution in this unattractive province.
The measures, he said, besides the provision of cheap electricity to woo domestic investors and handing over of all industrial zones to private sector also included several other policy related steps. He said that the government has decided the establishment of new industrial zones at important trading areas and an industrial estate is being established on the gateway to Kohat and Karak, which would be followed by Malakannd. He said that remarkable progress has been made in the establishment of Oil Refinery, which besides, the promotion of small and medium enterprises will also generate employment opportunity for their unemployed youth.
Similarly, he said that his government along with offering attractive incentives for industrialists and investors are also extending them all required facilities and guarantees to develop not only our industries, but also stand our deteriorated economy on own feet and generate maximum opportunities for businesses and development to our people in general and youth in particular.
Similarly, he said, concrete steps are being taken for marketing and consumption of our industrial products within the country as well as exporting it to other countries in collaboration with the federal govt besides evolving joint strategy for peace in the region and extending friendly relations with the neighbouring countries including Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics.
On this occasion, the representatives of industrialists and traders community eulogised candid steps of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for elimination corruption and bringing about transparency in govt affairs as well as creating feasible atmosphere for industrial and commerce activities in the province while assured whole hearted cooperation in this regard.