SARGODHA, Mar 25 (APP): Parliamentary Secretary for Information and
Broadcasting, Barrister Mohsin Shah Nawaz Ranjha on Friday said that allotment of 12 acre of land for establishment of dry-port at Sargodha
was a gift by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to the business community, growers, industry and people of the region.
Speaking at a press conference organized by Sargodha Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (SCCI) here, after approval of Railway land by the Prime Minister for establishment of Sargodha dry-port at Mitha Lak, the Parliamentary Secretary said that economic activity would be enhanced in the zone.
He thanked the PM for approving 12 acre of land for the dry-port and
added that the matter of land was taken by the PM on priority basis and also directed the Railways department to provide vacated land adjacent to Mitha Lak Railway Station at free of cost for Sargodha Dry Port.
He said that dry-port was a long standing demand by the traders which
had now been fulfilled, after three years efforts by the incumbent government and SCCI. After establishment of dry-port, the area would boost and contribute revenue in the national exchequer, he added.
It was a great opportunity for the business community, growers, industry
and people of the area as a lot of economic activities would enhance and traders’ problems would be resolved.
It would also create employment opportunity for the people of the area,
he said.
The district Sargodha had vast kinnow industry which was already
contributing foreign exchange in the economy, he said and added that after establishment of dry-port here, the business community would not travel to Karachi for their export.
The Parliamentary Secretary said that the kinnow was being exported to
other countries from Karachi port but now this export would be possible from here without any delay and the traders of surrounding areas would also get benefit from it,
Barrister Mohsin Shah Nawaz Ranjha said that initially it was decided
that dry-port would be constructed through public-private partnership but now it had been decided that all types of financial assistance for its development would be provided by the government and the allocated land would not be used for any other purpose.
Member National Assembly (MNA) Zulfiqar Bhatti, Hamid Hameed, Member
Provincial Assembly (MPA) Nadia Aziz, Abdul Razaq Dhillon, President SCCI Mukhtar Mirza and executive committee members were also present on the occasion.
They commented that this port would enhance the economy of the area,
provide relief to the traders and local agriculturists and would also create employment opportunity for the people.