LAHORE: Lahore Development Authority (LDA) should fulfill its commitment and avoid shifting industries from Kahna Kacha Industrial Estate until and unless alternate place is given to the affected industries.
The call was given at a meeting between the LCCI President Malik Tahir Javed and a delegation of Kahna Kacha Industrial Estate led by Mahmood Akhter here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
The delegation informed the LCCI president that it was agreed between the industrialists of the area and LDA that no industry will be shifted until alternate place is given but LDA has started marking various industrial units for demolition. They said that investment of billions would become garbage if LDA implements its decision without giving alternate place.
The LCCI President Malik Tahir Javed said that Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif should take notice of this move from LDA that is against the CM’s vision for industrial expansion. He said it seems that some elements want to create trust deficit between the private sector and the government.
He said that at present when entire world is talking about industrial expansion to win the global market, LDA is utilizing its all energies for deindustrialization which would ultimately hit the national economy hard.
He said that Lahore Development Authority should keep in view the ground realities before taking such decisions. He said that residential colony would not render any service to the economy of Punjab but demolition of Kahna Kacha Industrial Estate would not only deprive millions of workers of their jobs but would also air message that this piece of land is not safe for doing business.
Malik Tahir Javed said that Punjab government should immediately take notice of the situation as forcefully implementation of LDA’s decision would also bring down the graph of government’s popularity. He said that priority to residential colonies over industrial area is a matter of concern for the business community who is trying to play role for economic development of the country besides various challenges.
The LCCI President said that industrial estates and free zones always attract local and foreign investment and contribute in economic development of any country. These make a vital contribution to the national exports besides generate huge employment opportunities. He said that Pakistan had already lost a number of international markets while the condition of both local and foreign investment is also precarious. In the present scenario when country is struggling to enhance exports, collapse of Kahna Kacha Industrial Estate would further aggravate the situation.
He said that this act of Lahore Development Authority would waste the investment of billions rupees and turn the industrial units of Kahna Kacha Industrial Estate into derrises of heap which would not raise the graph of unemployment but would also discourage the local investors and they would be compelled to shift their businesses to the other countries. He said that foreign investor would also loose their interest and shelves their plans to start businesses in Punjab.
The LCCI President also feared a surge in street crimes because of unemployment, saying that law and order situation is bound to aggravate if Lahore Development Authority implements its plan forcefully.
Malik Tahir Javed urged the Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif to take notice of this grave situation and act promptly to save the industry of Kahna Kacha Industrial estate and social fabric of Punjab.
