Karachi Garment city construction held over non provision of land

The Government of Pakistan in Trade Policy 2003-04, decided to setup three Garment Cities in Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad. The Provincial Government were to allocate land to set up these Garment Cities. KGC Project is 100 percent owned and funded by Government of Pakistan. National Assembly Standing Committee on Textile Industry under the chairmanship of Khawaja Ghulam Rasool Koreja, MNA met in Karachi on Tuesday to discuss the issue on allotment of land for the Karachi Garment City with the Land Utilisation Department, Government of Sindh.

The Committee was informed that the federal government has released Rs 300 million but there is a dispute between Pakistan Steel Mills, Government of Sindh and the Textile City regarding provision of land.

The Committee expressing concern over the non-provision of land for the construction of Karachi Garment City directed the Ministry to invite the Chief Secretary Sindh along with Deputy Commissioner concerned to brief the Committee on the said issue at the next meeting.

The Committee also directed that representative of Steel Mills and Secretary Industries should also be called in the next meeting so that matter could be resolved at the earliest.

The Chairman, Pakistan Textile City Limited (PTCL) briefed the Committee about the problem faced by its management regarding establishment of Textile City. The Committee will be approaching the Prime Minister Secretariat for the supply of natural gas in textile city.

The Committee also found misappropriation in the construction of water pipeline as out of 24 KM only 3.5 KM line was constructed with the huge amount of Rs 700 million.

The Committee has directed the management of PTCL to submit the complete break-up of the project to the Standing Committee in its next meeting.