Younus Dagha discusses finance, planning and export advancement work in Sindh with exporters, industralists and dignitaries- visits PHMA
“Industrialisation and export enhancement are national cause to uplift economy. Industry and export are priority areas for both federal and provincial governments as they are reciprocating to the nation while exporting products “Made in Pakistan”, generating huge revenue for national and provincial exchequers, creating new employment and earning foreign exchange, which are direly needed in the prevailing economic outlook. Industry’s demand to combine multiple industrial laws of Sindh under one legislation to be regulated under single window is genuine. Industries may provide proposal for consideration of Sindh cabinet to transform the existing Sindh Industrial Trading Estates Limited under Sindh Industries & Commerce Department into an independent S.I.T.E. Development & Management Company on the pattern of other companies operating in Korangi, Landhi and other industrial areas. The problems and issues of industries will be addressed and resolved on urgent basis. The industries may appoint focal persons for prompt coordination and resolution to the problems for coordination with the Sindh government.”
This was stated by Muhammad Younus Dagha, Minister for Industries, Commerce & Revenue, Government of Sindh during his recent visit to Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PHMA) to meet the leading industrialists and exporters of Karachi.
PHMA Patron In-Chief Muhammad Jawed Bilwani along with Abdul Jabbar Gajiani and other Office Bearers welcomed Muhammad Younus Dagha, Minister for Industries, Commerce & Revenue Sindh at PHMA House, Karachi.
Newly-elected Chairman South Zone Abdul Jabbar Gajiani requested the Minister to accord priority to the issues and matters related to infrastructure development, provision of uninterrupted supply of utilities and other streamline regulatory matters to facilitate industries.
PHMA Patron In-Chief Jawed Bilwani in his key notes paid rich tribute to Younus Dagha on his remarkable services to the nation as Federal Secretary for Finance, Commerce, Water & Power. Bilwani recognised that Younus Dagha rightly deserved the Ministership in the interim setup of Sindh Government.
He was of the view that the Sindh Government’s portfolios of finance and planning & development demand an upright person like Younus Dagha for productive actions and reforms, however, it is unfortunate that his portfolio was changed to Industries & Commerce and Revenue. Bilwani asserted upon the importance of exports to uplift the national economy, terming exports as the lifeline. He highlighted various industrial and economic development projects lying pending with the Sindh Government for the last several years viz. Combined Effluent Treatment Plants in industrial zones of Karachi, Water Recycling Treatment Plants TP1 & TP2 and K-IV water project.
He also expressed concern over lack of basic infrastructure facilities and unavailability of uninterrupted supply of gas, power and water to industries. The water tariff in Karachi was most exorbitant as compared to other industrial cities in all other provinces which has created a competition within the country among export industries. He demanded water tariff rationalisation in Karachi at par with other cities of Pakistan stating that tariff of power, telephone and POL products is uniform and water tariff discrimination must end. He invited the attention of the Minister towards exemption of Sindh Infrastructure Development Cess for Exporters as the Punjab Government had exempted the same in 2019. The Sindh Government, on our request, in the Provincial Budget 2022-2023 announced to grant exemption of Sindh Infrastructure Development Cess, however, said notification not issued till date.
Bilwani highlighted the industry’s demand to combine multiple industrial laws of Sindh under one legislation to be regulated under single window to promote further industrialization. The industries of S.I.T.E. Industrial area also demand to end discrimination and transform the existing Sindh Industrial Trading Estates Limited under Sindh Industries & Commerce department into an independent S.I.T.E. Development & Management Company on the pattern of such companies operating in other industrial areas so that the industrial stakeholders shall be at liberty to monitor and complete developmental work in their zone without bureaucratic hurdles.
He also conveyed reservation of export industries over highest number of provincial holidays in Sindh which adds to their cost of production. There are 14 Gazetted Holidays and 52 Sundays which total up 66 holidays in a year. Frequent provincial holidays declared by the provincial government hurts the export production schedules and exporters have to bear overtime expenses of workers to make shipments on time.
He urged the Sindh Government to adopt separate policy for export industries providing employer and employee to adjust such holidays with mutual consent. He requested the Minister to extend recommendations to the concerned ministries of the federal government to connect the ports of Karachi with upcountry destinations by introducing RORO (Roll-on & Roll-Off services) of Railways to load the trucks and trailers loaded with containers and drop them outside the Karachi city for upcountry destinations to avoid and end heavy traffic congestion in Karachi city. He anticipated that export shipment at the ports should be handled and examined at rapid pace and priority. At present import is handled by 80% of staff while remaining 20% looks after examination of export causing delays at times. He also requested the Sindh Government to accord priority for revival of Karachi Circular Railway to facilitate worker class. He also urged to end monopoly of KE in Karachi, unbundle the company and established seven separate companies in all districts of Karachi.
Muhammad Younus Dagha, Minister for Industries, Commerce & Revenue, Government of Sindh exchanging views with the Industrialists and Exporters of Karachi informed that the interim Government of Sindh is according priority to digitisation of departments. In this connection, the Revenue department is under automation process in agreement with PBIT. E-Registration/ Electronic Tokens started with online fee submission and soon human interaction will end. The Planning & Development department under his advice has started working on new developmental plans for Sindh. He was of the view that the Government either Federal or Provincial must have practical and workable plans which are often not available at times for negotiations with International Developmental Organizations. CETPs project was previously dead, now work on it restarted on Public-Private Partnership basis.
Younus Dagha added that according to World Bank and JICA report the transportation is most neglected area in Sindh whereby 15000 buses are required for commuters while presently only 1000 buses are operative out of which 700 belong to private sector. Aside Green line, other projects will start soon. As per a study there is a huge gap of $10 billion for infrastructure development in Karachi. Work is in progress for K-IV water project and other projects of public interest. The interim Government of Sindh is working hard place things on right track and he hoped that the newly elected Government in Sindh will follow. He asked the industries to appoint focal persons for prompt coordination and resolution to the problems in the hands of Sindh Government.
PHMA Former Central Chairman Babar Khan, Irfan Bawany, Senior Vice Chairman Shabbir Bilwani, Vice Chairman Mahmood Nara, former Zonal Chairman Aslam Karsaz, Abdul Rehman, Khizer Mehboob, member exporters Altaf Hussain, Iftikhar Ashraf, Ayaz Ali, Salman Ishaq, KM Pervez and other leading exporters also exchanged their views.