Looking forward: ‘Power outages crippling Swat development’

Trade experts, defence analysts link peace with fiscal prosperity.

MINGORA: Swat is rich in resources and the government must take solid steps to maximise their use, stated Senator Ilyas Bilour. “The government must provide gas and electricity to industries on subsidised rates to promote trade and industrial development,” added Bilour.

He was speaking on Tuesday at a seminar which was part of the three-day Swat Trade Exhibition and Symposium 2014. The event started on Monday at Grassy Ground.

Peshawar Corps Commander Major General Khalid Rabbani, adviser to K-P chief minister for trade and industry Abdul Munim, Senator Ilyas Bilour and defence analyst Dr Maria Sultan, along with other elected representatives, attended the event.

Business in times of peace

Trade experts stressed peace was imperative to allow trade and industry to flourish in Swat. These views were also echoed by Dr Maria Sultan. A peaceful environment was vital for the economic uplift of the region, added Sultan.

“Until there is peace in Afghanistan, there can be no economic prosperity in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa,” she said. Sultan also discussed Talibanisation in detail and its impact on Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Swat Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Ahmad Khan said more than 80,000 workers were employed by the silk industry up until 2006 and financial activity was booming at the time.

“Currently, the industrial sector is on the verge of complete collapse due to neglect by previous governments,” he said. Ahmad Khan added power outages remained one of the main hurdles in the path of economic development.

He pointed out there was tremendous potential in the marble, handloom, precious stones and wood carving industries if the government paid a little more attention to them.

K-P Minister for Mineral Development Ziaullah Afridi said the provincial government was helping industrialists and traders in the province. “The K-P government has allocated Rs8 billion which will promote the sector to a great extent,” said Afridi.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2014.

Correction: In an earlier version of this article, Abdul Munim was mistakenly mentioned as the K-P Minister for Industry. The error has been fixed.