Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Prime Minister said that Pakistan is set to become a major exporter of cement to regional countries. “Pakistan is one of the major cement exporters for the reconstruction work in Afghanistan and added the local cement industry was already working at full capacity,” the Prime Minister told the foundation laying ceremony of three cement and a paper plant factories here.
He said the projects will bring an investment of US$500m and create job opportunities for around 50,000 people. "There is still vast scope for improvement and sky is the limit," he said while referring to the large demand for cement within the country and in the neighbouring countries.
Aziz describing the event as a historic and said, "We are embarking on a journey to progress, prosperity and development that will take us to a new Pakistan." The Prime Minister announced that the areas adjoining the four industrial units, be provided natural gas, and said the federal and the provincial governments besides the investors would share funds for the construction of road network around the area. The Prime Minister also performed the ground-breaking ceremony to provide natural gas to the industrial units and the adjoining areas, located around 150km from the capital Islamabad, to benefit the local populace.
Addressing a gathering of industrialists, investors and locals, he said, the completion of the plants would generate economic activity, improve infrastructure, and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs. About the environmental impact, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said, all the three units are installing plants, that fully comply with highest standards to curb environmental pollution.
Prime Minister praised the vision of President General Pervez Musharraf. "Things are happening now, right before us," he said pointing to country’s industrial growth which, he said, was touching 15 per cent mark. He also appreciated the hard work put in by Governor Khalid Maqbool, Chief Minister Pervez Elahi, MD Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd Abdul Rashid Lone the District Nazim Sardar Ghulam Abbas and the people of
the area for cooperating in these projects.
