Umar vows relief package for Gadani workers

Federal minister welcomes proposal for establishment of SEZ at world’s third largest ship-breaking yard

QUETTA:

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Sunday vowed to speak to Prime Minister Imran Khan for the provision of a relief package for the workers of Gadani Ship-breaking Yard.

The federal minister visited the world’s third largest ship-breaking yard, Gadani, which is located across a 10-kilometre-long beachfront, about 40 km northwest of Karachi. While Gadani used to be the most active ship-breaking yard in the 80s, its current output is less than one-fifth of what it used to produce during its prime, before being taken over by regional competitors.

During the visit the federal minister announced vowed he would also speak to the premier about economic development of Balochistan and provision of new employment opportunities.

Commenting on the implementation of one key tenet of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) manifesto, Umar said that affordable housing was among the agendas of Prime Minister Imran Khan, which he revealed before the elections.

Speaking about the nature of the relief package, he said that the package would be in the style of prime minister’s housing scheme.

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The federal minister also met a delegation of local industrialists led by Pakistan Shipbreakers Association (PSA) Chairman Rafiq Salam and Vice Chairman Abdul Ghani Memon, who told him how the ship-breaking industry supported 25,000 through direct employment and 200,000 people indirectly.

The PSA chief said that they could play their role in providing cheap and quality raw material for construction of affordable houses. He added that Gadani has a capacity of 3 million tonnes of scrap per annum.

Umar told the delegation that the government was aware of the problems faced by local industries, adding that he, in consultation with federal minister for commerce, would formulate a policy to keep customs tariffs stable and to ensure employment for the common man.

He added that the government was taking measures for economic development of the country and to provide relief to the common man.

The PSA also put forth a proposal for the establishment of a special economic zone (SEZ) in Gadani for attaching steel iron city and other allied industry.

Welcoming the proposal, the federal minister said that like other parts of the country, SEZs would be set up for promotion of economic activities in Pakistan.

During the visit, Umar also inspected Hubco and Baiko by speedboat, along with other areas.