Four years on, Sahiwal industrial zone-II remains a pipe dream.

SAHIWAL -- The divisional administration, Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC) and the Sahiwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry have failed to identify a piece of land for the establishment of a small industrial estate (zone II) here despite a lapse of four years.

'Sahiwal has a small industrial zone on Harappa Road which is not catering to the needs of the growing manufacturers and businessmen. To accommodate the growing needs of businesses another industrial zone is required,' says Chamber President Shaikh Basharat while talking to Dawn.

The main problem is the identification of big pieces of state land spanning over 100-600 acres. The zone-II industrial estate [idea] was floated by then deputy commissioner Zaman Wattoo and local PML-N parliamentarians, led by Nadeem Kamran, in 2017.

A piece of 700-acre tract was identified at village 85/9-L on Bunga Hayat Road but it turned out to be private land.

The then commissioner, Baber Hayat, had asked the Sahiwal chamber to buy land with their own resources but the chamber showed its inability owing to paucity of funds. Later, a 637-acre tract was identified near village 86/9-L. Local businessmen and manufacturers were happy because the then director (development), Khawar Shahzad, claimed that the land had been identified, selected and soon it would be purchased. At that time, the district administration took SNGPL, Mepco and PTCL high-ups on board for provision of facilities.

Dawn learnt from sources that local traders and businessmen were so happy with the development that they deposited Rs5,000 each with PSIC for showing their intention of buying land in the industrial...