MULTAN City News

Govt to look for strategic partner for PSM: minister

Says government committed to curb poverty, unemployment through SMEs

From Our Correspondent

MULTAN: Federal Minister for Industries and Production Ghulam Murtaza Khan Jatoi has said that the government will search for a strategic partner for the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) and the management will be handed over to it after 30 per cent share transfer.

Addressing a foundation stone laying ceremony of a new block at the NFC Institute of Engineering and Technology here on Monday, he said the government was committed to curb poverty and unemployment through development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). He was of the view that exports could be enhanced through promoting SMEs. The government had recently announced an auto policy to bring new auto industry to Pakistan with more incentives on 600-800CC cars, making them affordable for the lower middle-income group. Jatoi said that small cars were cheaper in India, so Pakistan had also discussed with new upcoming auto industrialists to design low cost cars here as well.

The minister claimed that power and gas issues would be resolved by 2018 and the government would have surplus energy at lower rates. He criticised the previous government for not making efforts to address the energy crisis. He said that only 60km Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline was pending for construction. After the construction of that line, and the gas line with Turkmenistan, the gas issue would resolve, he added.

About the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the minister said that it would help develop 100-acre export processing zone in Gawadar, which would also benefit Karachi. He said that Turkey had assured transfer of knowledge, experience and technology to strengthen the SMEs. Pakistan and Turkey had huge potential of bilateral trade, he added. NFCIET Vice-Chancellor Dr Akhtar Hussain and Registrar Nasrullah Khan Babar were also present on the occasion. Later, the minister visited Khar Gharbi, Muzaffargarh district, to condole the death of Malik Muhammad Milad Khar, the brother of former Punjab Governor Malik Ghulam Mustafa Khar and uncle of former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar. He stayed there for two hours and also discussed political issues with Mustafa Khar.