JEDDAH, 21 February — Massive industrial reforms and development are under way in the Sindh province, according to its Governor Mohammedmian Soomro. “Our industrial areas are full of activities following an increased inflow of investments both from within Pakistan and overseas,” Soomro told Arab News shortly before leaving Jeddah for Makkah on Tuesday night.
Soomro, who is also the chairman of the Sindh Information & Technology Board, said President Pervez Musharraf’s visit to the US had been successful and had boosted the confidence of potential foreign investors. The president himself had evinced keen interest in the flow of investments for industrial progress in the country in general and the province in particular. “He is satisfied with the way investments are coming in and utilized for various economic activities,” Soomro said, adding: “All of our industrial areas are now humming with activity with existing and new projects.”
By virtue of being governor, Soomro is also a member of the Pakistan Security Council headed by the president. He said the present activities in industrial areas — Kotry, Nawabshah (Hyderabad), Sukkur and Nooriabad — ranged from maintenance to expansion.
“Overseas investments are being mobilized for textile and chemicals industries. Textile in particular has value-added sectors like weaving, printing, dying and finishing, which are also developing. Investments are also being directed toward industries like chemicals, consumer items and plastics, food products as well as financial services.
A number of national and international fast-food chains have come up in the recent past. “In fact, the province has witnessed the highest growth of fast-food sector in Asia. There has also been a glaring indication of growing consumer spending and public confidence,” he said. According to him, investors from among overseas Pakistanis have shown interest in sectors like education health, recreation, holiday resorts and cement, aside from participating in the process of privatization. As a result, the stock market index has been going up,” he said.
