SCCI rejects body for KP industrial policy implementation

PESHAWAR: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has rejected the 15-members committee formed by the government to ensure implementation of the KP Industrial Policy 2020 under the action plan.

“Attaining desired objectives of the industrial policy would not only be difficult but also be impossible sans representation of the chamber and taking relevant stakeholders on board,” SCCI President Sherbaz Bilour said.

He said this while chairing a meeting of industrialists here at the Chamber’s House on Tuesday.

The SCCI chief said the KP government had approved industrial policy 2020, which aims to give six industrial estates established in different districts of KP the status of special economic zones and revive sick industries.

However, he said the industrial policy would prove unproductive for lack of representation of the chamber on the proposed body.

The SCCI chief criticised the provincial government for failing to implement the previous industrial policy 2016 and asked how the new policy for 2020 can be executed. He added the sustainable business environment and industrialisation can only be ensured by taking the chamber and business community on board.

The SCCI chief emphasised that the chamber represented the largest trade body and was the prime stakeholder, which needed to be taken on board to ensure the promotion of industrialisation, especially for the revival of sick industries under the policy in the province.

Sherbaz Bilour opposed the ‘unilateral’ decisions and policies of the KP government and demanded implementation of policies with coordination and consultation.

The SCCI asked the KP government to give representation to the chamber in the proposed committee for implementation of the industrial policy in order to remove apprehensions and reservations, and ensure timely execution of the policy.