Businessmen seek 5,000 acres for industrial zone

Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) has formally requested 5,000 acres of land for an industrial zone along the Rawalpindi Ring Road.

According to sources, more than 30 industries have shown interest in establishing operations, with plans for an additional fifty in the second phase. The demand for this land was articulated through the issuance of a specialised form and a survey report gauging the business community's desire to establish industries in the Ring Road Industrial Zone.

The envisaged industrial zone aims to relocate existing industrial units from Cantt and Islamabad to the Ring Road Industrial Zone.

Sources further said the business community is interested in setting up 30 industries including pharmaceutical, plastic and rubber, auto parts, cold storage, poultry, flour mills, shoe manufacturing, petroleum, agriculture, construction, oil and gas, detergent, food, furniture, textile garments, gems and jewellery, marble ceramics, steel, minerals, information technology, recycling, general manufacturing, general trading, solar panels, glass manufacturing, green, and paper industry.

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Moreover, fifty industries will be set up in the second phase. Originating at Banth on GT Road, the Rawalpindi Ring Road project spans 38.3 km with six interchanges.

In response to the chamber's request for the approval of an industrial zone along this route, Rawalpindi Ring Road Project Director Liaqat Ali Chatha instructed the chamber to determine the required land for the industrial zone based on the specific needs of the industries.

RCCI President Saqib Rafiq highlighted that the establishment of the Ring Road Industrial Zone will facilitate the relocation of industries from the inner city, subsequently alleviating traffic congestion.

He emphasised that this move will extend to the I-9 Industrial Area in Islamabad and the Industrial.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2023.