(17 Jan, 2018)
President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), President AKIA, Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain on Wednesday said Attock is famous for traditional crafts including embroidered shoes, painted and lacquered wood work, calico printing, iron utensils, hand loom cloth and blankets.
According to the pre-investment survey conducted by the Government, several projects have good prospects for investment in the city including Aluminum Utensils, Biscuit / Confectionery, Centrifugal Pumps, Livestock Farming, Dairy Products and many others. Government and Policy makers should take initiative to attract investors, so that the city can play its role in increased exports, foreign exchange and employment.
The veteran business leader while talking to the business community said that Attock can play effective role in development of tourism industry as many historical monuments like Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Attock Forte, Ghazi Bharotha Hydro Power Project, etc. can be turned into tourist attraction places through effective publicity and increased facilitation for tourists.
Under the CPEC, Kotri – Attock Railway track will be upgraded and an additional highway passing through Attock, Mianwali and Dera Ismail Khan will be constructed, which will benefit trade and industry. Attock produces Wheat, Groundnut, Maize, Potato, Cauliflower, Onion, Garlic, Citrus, Guava and Apricot; Mineral Resources includes Argillaceous Clay, Bentonite, Fireclay, Limestone and Iron Ore, Laterite, which provide raw material to many industries in the country, he said.
The former minister added that there are many opportunities of investment supported by several financing facilities provided by commercial banks, financial institutions and Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC). For betterment of agriculture sector, the irrigation department has designed Marri Dam and Gangwal Dam, which will improve the agriculture production of Attock.
He said that the Attock chamber of commerce and industry highlights issues pertaining to trade and industry of the city, which is commendable. Moreover, for pursuing higher education, establishing university in the city is largely demanded, for which Government need to take immediate action.
