The Federal Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives, Jahangir Khan Tareen, disclosed this while addressing a press conference here on Monday. Chairman TUSDEC Almas Hyder and MD Suhael Ahmad were also present on this occasion.
Tareen maintained that three SDCs would be set up in Azad Kashmir and NWFP by March next year. One each center would be established at Batgram, Balakot and Muzaffarbad, he added. He said that TUSDEC would constitute a task force for the execution of SDCs development project in collaboration with newly formed Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA).
He added that this task force would be ready for action in next three months. Apart from reconstruction, various other sectors have also been identified for setting up SDCs such as tourism development or furniture sector. There were 35 furniture factories in Muzaffarbad before this earthquake and TUSDEC would strive to bring them into operation again, he added.
Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) would fund these centers, he said.
CEMENT PRICES: Answering a question, he said that the government had allowed the zero-rated import of cement to check surge in its prices. Nevertheless, prices of cement had registered increase due to increased construction activity.
Enlisting the government efforts to bridge the gap between production and demand of cement in the country, he said that Mustahkam Cement Factory had been privatised and revitalised to meet requirement of this commodity. He added that three new cement units would start production within six to nine months, adding another 20 to 25 percent production capacity in the country.
"This is mainly due to the government's prudent and sagacious policies, which have enabled the country to have more cement production at this critical juncture of its history," he added.
About TUSDEC, Tareen said that it was setting up tools, dies and mould center in Karachi in the month of December and another at Gujranwala in next two months.
He said that increase in the revenue of Pakistan Industrial Technical Assistance Center (PITAC) showed that this important Common Facility Center set up by the government in 1962, had regained the confidence of the private sector. He said that TUSDEC would carry out the up-gradation of PITAC at a cost of Rs 570 million and hopefully the government would approve this project within three months.
Tareen said that the company was also engaged in carrying out technology analysis in sectors like surgical, ceramics, gems and jewellery and marble. He hoped that this activity would be helpful in the up-gradation of technology and making skilled manpower available in these vital segments of the national economy.