Sindh seeks Rs2.4b for new industrial zone

Government seeks funds for infrastructure development of Larkana Industrial Estate.

KARACHI: The Sindh government seeks Rs2.4 billion from the federal government for the infrastructure development of the 500-acre Larkana Industrial Estate, located at SITE, Larkana, officials revealed on Monday.

The provincial government had initiated the Larkana Industrial Estate project on the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari when the Pakistan Peoples Party came to power. Later, the Sindh government handed over the 500 acres of forestland of Amrote IP Forest to the Sindh industries department for the industrial estate.

The industries department prepared a 45-page feasibility report for the development of the project with an estimated cost of Rs2.4 billion, officials said. After the final approval by the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP), the scheme was moved to the federal government for the funds mentioned in the feasibility report.

The additional chief secretary of planning and development Ishaq Ahmed Lashari said his department was waiting for the federal government’s response.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2011.