Room 568, pearl con.................dated, lol...............

It must be pritivised, I second you.

kun tu nay khareedni hai ,

dhoti bandhnay kay paisay nahi , steel mill khareedni hai.

Guys does anyone know what happened to REVO??

It sounded like a good car and from what i heard was received positively but then ADAM motors had problem with manufacturing and marketing and the whole thing came to a grinding halt!!

Thanks in advance for any update.

Anyone know what happened to the Mercedes plant being proposed in Sheikhupura?

Last I read they had stopped production. The owner said he was looking for a partner to invest cash into the company. They have a purpose built facility,so it will be a shame to see it go to waste. The reason for the shut down was the government decision to allow import of ued and refurbished cars. This measure has also hit the other big four auto car plants, and plans on expansion of facilities have been halted.

Sadly the Pakistan government is killing the automobile industry, just as it was begining to grow in a big way. So much for competent governance.

Well I think Govt of Pakistan can help the company by investing like a venture capital fund investing in improving in design and also bringing in schemes to provide the govt employees the loan to purchase the REVO.

Economists ask govt to increase deletion of auto parts



By Mansoor Ahmad

LAHORE: Economists have urged the government to increase deletion of auto parts as auto assemblers having achieved localization of 60-70 percent components still pay higher amount on the balance 30-40 percent imported components.

The Engineering Development Board has given weightage to different components of cars. Pakistan is now manufacturing almost all body parts and mechanical parts, plastic components, tyres, batteries, seats and some engine parts of cars. Some critical parts of the units are still imported by assemblers. The deletion level in cars ranges from 50-70 percent. The assemblers that have achieved higher deletion levels are correspondingly cheaper than those that have lower deletion level.

However, The News found that the cost of local components is much less than that of imported components of even those models where 70 percent deletion has been achieved. This is partly due to the fact that the high-tech parts not produced in Pakistan are costlier as well and partly due to higher cost of even low-tech parts that are produced outside Pakistan.

The government for over a decade made it mandatory for the car manufacturers to localize car components progressively for manufacturing vehicles in the country. The compulsion was imposed under the WTO’s trade-related investment measures (TRIMS). After the expiry of TRIMS, last year the government was forced to allow the import of those components that are manufactured in the country. The components that are not manufactured locally are allowed under completely knocked down mode at 35 percent import duty and those that are produced in Pakistan are importable at 50 percent duty.

Most of the local manufacturers of car, however, preferred to import only the parts that are not produced in Pakistan. One car assembler opted to import even those parts that were locally produced by paying 50 percent duty.

The result of the decision was that the cost of its models produced on hundred percent imported components increased by Rs200, 000 to Rs300, 0000 per unit over the comparable models of other assemblers. The sales of these high cost models took a nosedive. This example has convinced other local assemblers that use of locally-produced components is in their interest. The quality of these parts is checked and confirmed by the parents companies sitting mostly in Japan and South Korea.

The government on its part is also interested in localization of imported parts. It has announced a policy under which every year some components importable currently at 35 percent duty would be transferred to 50 per cent duty bracket. This would encourage the assemblers to go for local production of high duty parts. Only then would the burden of import of these components be reduced. The government desires to achieve this aim by the time the country attains 500,000 annual car production level in 2011-12.

The government expects the country to cross the production of half a million cars in the year 2011-12, though the private sector does not expect the car production to exceed 350, 000 units in five yearsí time.

They say the achievement of growth target in the automobile sector in the next five years will largely depend on higher deletion of auto-parts and affordable financing facilities similar to or little higher than those that existed in 2005.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=63274

That's a good move.

Yes and of course with increase in car production, the deletion of auto parts will increase. Govt had to review the second hand car policy on instants when OWN on car prices increased tremendously. But reviewal of the import policy will restrict the import and increase in local production is expected. In 2007 cars production will cross 200,000 mark and is bound to have sharp increases in coming years.

Car sales reach highest ever level in June
RECORDER REPORT
KARACHI (July 10 2007): Car sales in the country has reached its highest ever level in June as 18,484 units were sold in a month, 2,490 units higher than its previous record of 15,994 units registered in March 2006.

According to data, released by Pakistan Automotive Association, the cumulative car sales figure for the 2007 fiscal year reveals a growth of 6.3 percent to 165,268 units as against 155,515 units in 2006 financial year. With such a high number, car sales have achieved a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.7 percent during the past five years (2003-2007 financial years).

"This high number of car sales can be attributed to the lesser interest of investors in the imported vehicles as the import of complete built-up unit (CBU) cars registered a negative growth 13.9 percent during the first 11 months of the current fiscal year over the same period of the last year", Hettish Karmani, an analyst at Atlas Capital Markets said.

According to the latest figures, 26,802 units were imported in 11 months of 2006-07 financial year, of which 18,680 were cars and jeeps of different engine power. Under personal baggage scheme, 12,670 cars of different engine power were imported, followed by 4,651 cars imported under transfer of residence and 44 cars under gift scheme. Disintegrating the sales data by virtue of engine power shows the highest number of sales was 10,655 cars of 1,000cc, followed by 1831 of 1801cc to 3000cc segment.

Cumulative production and sales volume of the listed car assemblers, ie Pak Suzuki, Indus Motor, Honda Atlas Car and Dewan Motors jumped by four percent and nine percent to 196,405 units and 201,421 units respectively.

The giant Pak Suzuki lead the car assemblers with a market share of 61 percent and unit sales of 122,426 in 2007 financial as compared to market share of 54 percent and unit sales of 99,105 in 2006 financial year. Indus Motors followed the footsteps of the leader and secured second position with market share of 24 percent and sales volume of 48,590 locally assembled units. The rest was shared by the remaining two assemblers, who managed to roll out 30,405 units as against 44,399 units in the last fiscal year.

"As per recent notification, the government reduced withholding tax from five percent to 2.5 percent on locally manufactured cars. The levy would be applicable from September", Hettish said.

He further said: "This reduction was done with a view to promoting and strengthening the local industry as earlier the industry apprised the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) about the problems arising from imposition of this levy. "As a result, the assemblers raised the prices of the vehicles and the recent reduction has no chances to bring the prices down", he observed.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=5900...m=&supDate=

Tax-free Pak-China zones soon: Salman Shah



KARACHI: Advisor to the Prime Minster on Finance Dr Salman Shah, has said that the recent Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Five-year Economic Relation Agreement (ERA) with China would enable Pakistan’s economy boom and attain record export targets, adding the present political situation would not harm to the economic activities in the country.

Addressing the “Pak-China Investment Seminar”, organized by the Board of Investment Pakistan (BOI), here Tuesday, he said that “Pak-China Economic Zones” would be developed in each province soon where mutual projects, particularly in manufacturing and export-oriented sectors, would be launched.

“These Economic Zones would be granted full exemption from customs and excise duty on machinery imported, besides tax holiday for five years,” Salman Shah said and added that it would help increasing Chinese investment in the country to a record level.

He said that a high-level trade delegation from China would shortly visit Pakistan to discuss potential projects. He urged that the Pakistani entrepreneurs must follow the suite. He added that local investors and traders must explore Chinese markets for their products, as it was also a huge consumer market.

The Advisor said that Pakistan’s demographic profile (over 54 per cent population under the age of 19, over 100 million under the age of 25 and being the sixth largest labour force in the world) provided ideal ground for labour-intensive manufacturing ventures and becoming the 4th largest producer after China, India and the USA.

Salman Shah said that no doubt the present economic development was based on domestic consumer market but that was an added feature of the national economy that it did not had to rely on imports only. He added that similar boom like that of telecom and housing sector was forthcoming in the manufacturing sector. “GDRs of the United Bank of Pakistan in the international market are very appreciative and reflects solid and concrete economic base of national economy that would always attract large foreign investment in the country,” he said. Salman Shah assured local investors that land allocation and registration issues would be addressed, which were raised by many local investors in the seminar.

Dr Junaid Ahmad, Advisor Ministry of Finance presented details of the potential projects in manufacturing, agriculture, real estate, energy, mineral and other sectors for Pak-China investment in the proposed “Pak-China Economic Zones” at Sindh, Balochistan, the NWFP and Punjab. He mentioned that each province would to provide around one thousand acres of land preferably near to National Highways or Motorways, while the provinces would own 20% share in such zones.

Advisor Ministry of Finance proposed that these economic zones may also include projects of US$450 million Integrated Steel Mill of 2million tonne per year capacity at the Port Qasim, US$800 million Neptha Cracker Unit at Karachi, US$5 billion oil refinery of 6 million tonnes per year production at Gawadar, Bunji Dam and hydro power project, Thar Coal Gasification, Cargo Village at Karachi Port, besides different joint ventures ranging from gem stone lapidary, earth moving machinery, automotive transmission, cement-gypsum-granite plants, cattle and poultry farming, fruit and vegetable processing units and small hand tools, etc.

Earlier, Wang Qihui, Commercial Counsellor of China expressed deep interest in investment in different sectors in Pakistan and lauded the incentives provided by the Board of Investment (BoI) to Chinese investors in this regard.

Sindh Minster for Culture and Tourism Rauf Siddiqui said that Chinese were reliable friends and their assistance in many sectors was badly needed.

Large numbers of local and Chinese businessmen and entrepreneurs attended the seminar.

Local investors suggested that fisheries and cotton sectors should also be included in the proposed projects. They urged for proper management of industrial units already established in the country.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=63928

CDWP to discuss projects worth Rs46 billion.

4 projects of energy sector involving cost of Rs 21.532 billion. The four projects of energy sector are Nuclear Fuel enrichment plant worth Rs13.707 billion, 100 MW diesel power plant at Khuzdar with estimated cost of Rs7.035 billion, electrification of new township at Tali Mt in District Dera Bugti worth Rs71.660 million and electrification of villages in district of Dera Bugti with an estimated cost of Rs 717.710 million

Four projects of Transport and Communication division, involving cost of Rs 6.435 billion, would also be considered during the meeting. The procurement of 300 new design high speed bogie wagons with cost of Rs 1.6 billion, pilot project for manufacturing of 5, 3000 HRP diesel electric locomotives involving cost of Rs 955 million, Dualization of Kasur-Depalpur carriageway from km 0.00 to 101.30 in district Kasur and Okara involving cost of Rs 2.883 billion and construction of Multan southern bypass.

Establishment of a mega project named “Nuclear Fuel Enrichment Plant” that involved a cost of Rs13.707 billion is expected to taken up by CDWP for final approval.

http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/july-2007/19/bnews1.php

Daimler-Chrysler abandons Mercedes plant project
ARIF RANA
ISLAMABAD (July 20 2007): Daimler-Chrysler and its UAE-based Coastal Group has walked out of Pakistan with their $1.1 billion Mercedes Benz manufacturing plant project as the government's last ditch efforts to save the investment plan have failed.

Daimler-Chrysler, a group of two auto sector global giants and manufacturers of Mercedez Benz, had formed a joint venture with Coastal Group of UAE to set-up a Mercedez Benz manufacturing plant in Pakistan. The joint venture was to make initial investment of $1.1 billion for the project.

Obvious loss of winding up of the project is that Pakistan missed a big investor with $1.1 billion sure investment, but the real loss is non-realisation of an opportunity to establish industrial zone for Mercedez Benz from where Pakistan could secure at least $5 billion exports annually.

The government was fully aware of the importance of the project and for the same it opened up the diplomatic channel to bring the joint venture back to Pakistan with its project. It made direct and in direct contacts to the joint venture during the last few weeks, but could not convince its management to rethink of its decision of winding up the project from Pakistan.

In today's open-sky investment world. a group like Mercedez Benz manufacturer can play very significant role in making other groups/ investors feel that the destination it selected for investment was better than the others. This type of project could bring many other companies to invest in Pakistan. Some one year back, the joint venture entered in Pakistan with a big bang and, as was expected it got very encouraging response from the authorities.

Things were moving smooth and in the right direction. The joint venture was making all possible efforts to make sure that its project comes on ground as early as possible and then not only caters to Pakistan's market demand but also export its products from here to the regional countries.

It overcame many obstacles and managed to secure a piece of land stretching over 1200 acres near Shaikhupura in Punjab for the project as well. It was a good development and no one could believe that such a big project will hit snags and one day can finish altogether specially when president general, Pervez Musharraf and, prime minister, Shaukat Aziz, were directly involved and interested to make sure that the joint venture does not face any problem in completing the project.

It happened and subsequent developments forced the joint venture to wind-up its project which, of course, was still on the papers and go back to Germany.

The officials blame media for unceremonial exit of the joint venture from Pakistan and claim that some elements with vested interested played in their own way to create problems for the joint venture. They also claim that the elements damaged the credibility of the joint venture through a malicious campaign in print media.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=5946...m=&supDate=

Exporting farming tools

ISLAMABAD, July 19: The Engineering Development Board (EDB) has constituted an eight-member working group to formulate a strategy for the export of agricultural machinery and implements.This was decided in the fifth meeting of the committee headed by EDB Chairman Abdul Hafeez Chaudhry on Thursday.

The working group comprises of representatives from public and private sector organisations.
The EDB will also provide international exposure to the manufacturers by arranging their participation in international fairs and exhibitions. The meeting also identified international exhibitions on farm machinery and implements.

The meeting was informed that the sector had potential to enter the global market, especially in African countries provided the manufacturers adopted international quality standards for their products. It was decided to launch an educational campaign for the farmers to use standard products instead of cheap products. Mr Hafeez assured the meeting that the government would encourage manufacturers of standard products by providing R&D support allocated for the auto sector. He added that the scheme was ready for submission to the cabinet for approval.

The exporters briefed the meeting about the difficulties faced by them in meeting the demands of foreign buyers and steps taken by them to overcome the difficulties. They said that they had already developed a vendor industry and introduced seven and eight items in global markets.

It was decided that Technology Upgradation and Skill Development Company (Tusdec) would prepare drawings of identified agricultural machinery and implements so that a culture towards standardisation of farm implements could be developed.

The representative of Tusdec assured the meeting that with the start of CAD/CAM centres in Gujranwala, Sialkot and Lahore the organisation was well-equipped to initiate work in this regard.

http://www.dawn.com/2007/07/20/ebr2.htm

German group discusses investment in Pakistan

By our correspondent

ISLAMABAD: A three-member delegation from CLASS Group, Germany on Wednesday called on Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives, Jahangir Khan Tareen, and showed keenness to invest in Pakistan.

The group is especially interested in agricultural machinery and the purpose of their visit is to seek new vendors for cast and forged machine components. The delegation had arrived in Lahore earlier on Saturday (July 21) and visited 6 industrial units in Faisalabad, exploring possible business ties.

The Minister pointed out long term business prospects to the German delegates and said with progress in dairy and farming sectors the market would further expand and global businessmen will find the country suitable for outsourcing.

He briefed them about the progress made in sugar, agriculture and dairy sectors and said that some multinational companies are investing in these sectors on a large scale and also invited German firms to do so.

The delegation appreciated the vendor industry in Pakistan and classified it as a global player. They assured to bring in new technology and partnerships to Pakistan in these fields.

The delegation also briefed the minister about the possibility of joint ventures with local companies.

The minister personally invited the delegation to return to Pakistan again so that he could show them further progress made in the agriculture sector especially in Rahimyar Khan.

The meeting was also attended by the secretary and additional secretary, Ministry of Industries Production and special Initiatives and CEO EDB.

It may be recalled that Tareen during his visit to Hanover Fair 2006 visited the manufacturing facility of CLASS and invited them to Pakistan for development of business relations between them and Pakistani component manufacturers.

The officials of CLASS also visited the Pakistani pavilion during the Hanover Fair 2007 and negotiated with some companies for component development.

Earlier, the delegation visited EDB and exchanged views with senior officers and briefed them about the working of the board. He said that Pakistan has produced 54,000 tractors in the last financial year and was in a position to export to neighbouring countries.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=65719

Agriculture machinery: German firm interested in joint venture

ISLAMABAD: While expressing dissatisfaction with the technology adopted by Pakistan in manufacturing of tractors, a leading German machinery-manufacturing firm on Wednesday has indicated entering into a joint venture with local firm for manufacturing of agriculture machinery in Pakistan.

A three-member delegation from M/C Class Group, Germany on Wednesday called on Jahangir Khan Tareen, Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives and showed interest in investment in Pakistan. The group is especially interested in agriculture machinery and purpose of their visit is to look for new vendor for casted and forged machined components.

The delegation arrived earlier in Lahore on Saturday and visited 6 industrial units and Faisalabad for exploring possibilities of business links. During the meeting with the minister, the delegation appreciated the vendor industry in Pakistan and classified it as world class.

They assured to bring technology and partnership in Pakistan in these fields. The delegation also briefed the minister about the possibility of a joint venture with a local company.

The minister highlighted long-term business opportunities in Pakistan for German firms and said with progress in dairy and farming sector the market will expand and world class players will find the country more suitable for outsourcing. Briefing the progress made by sugar, agriculture and dairy sectors the minister informed the delegation that some multi-national companies were investing heavily in these sectors and invited German firms to do so.

Earlier, the delegation visited Engineering Development Board (EDB) and exchanged views with senior officials. Zahid J Yaqoob, GM, briefed the delegation about the working of the board and performance of the different engineering sectors. The delegation was informed that country has produced 54,000 tractors last financial year and was in a position to export to neighbouring countries. The German delegation expressed dissatisfaction with the technology adopted by Pakistan in manufacturing of tractors and said that it needs improvement. staff report

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?p...26-7-2007_pg5_5

Descon awarded contract in Abu Dhabi

Staff Report

LAHORE: Descon Engineering has been awarded a contract by Abu Dhabi’s Ruwais Fertiliser Industries (FERTIL) for Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) works of Ruwais Urea Debottlenecking project.

According to a press release issued here on Wednesday, this project will increase the urea production capacity of the company by fifty percent.

The contract was signed between Shaikh Azhar Ali, CEO Descon Engineering and Muhammad Rashid Al Rashid, General Manager, FERTIL.

The project will be completed in two years using 5 million man-hours. The works awarded to Descon are worth $177 million.


http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?p...6-7-2007_pg5_11

Pakistan to become world’s number two: Use of CNG in vehicles

KARACHI, July 30: Pakistan is likely to outclass Brazil and Argentina in population of CNG vehicles and may emerge world’s number two in August this year by surpassing Argentina in number of CNG vehicles.

Pakistani roads are now flooded with 1.21m of CNG vehicles while Argentina has 1.243 million vehicles on roads. Brazil has 1.315 million CNG converted vehicles.

“We will leave Argentina behind next month in view of the rising demand of CNG-fitted cars and other vehicles. Pakistan has already emerged as the CNG leader in Asia,” CNG Station Owners Association (CNGSOA) Malik Khuda Bux told Dawn on Monday.

Currently, over 1,400 stations are in operation in 85 towns and cities of the country and an investment of Rs46 billion has so far been made. More than 60,000 new jobs have been created.

Some 400 new stations will be added in the new fiscal 2007-08 and number of vehicles will touch 1.4 million, he said adding that the 7,000-8,000 vehicles are being converted into CNG every month while some 3,000 new factory fitted CNG cars are finding their way to the roads from the local assembly plants.

Despite phenomenal growth in the CNG sector, consumers continue to face inordinate delays due to long queues at the CNG stations of the drivers to get their cylinder filled.

Less than 10 CNG stations out of over 100 stations in Karachi are getting gas pressure at 15 psi (per square inch) as against low pressure of eight psi. As a result, consumers have to wait for long at the CNG pumps. In the peak hours (after 10:pm) the eight psi reduces to 4-6 psi, thus taking 15-20 minutes to get the gas cylinder of a car filled.

In sharp contract, the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) offers 15 psi to the CNG stations. Dealers said that more than 90pc of pumps are getting 15 psi pressure. The CNG stations are now handling consumers numbering more than double compared to last year. Because of the low pressure of eight psi, the capacity of the compressor fails and the dispenser takes time to fill CNG especially in peak hours.

Chairman CNG Dealers Association (CNGDA) Abdul Sami Khan along with other members told Dawn in his office that one and a half years back, the SSGCL had agreed to offer 15 psi pressure but their charges were very high. As a result, only few investors have so far afforded to get the 15 psi for their stations.

He said that the SSGCL should follow the policy of SNGPL in offering 15 psi with low charges. But so far the utility company despite repeated attempts and requests is not ready to take the matter seriously.

Because of phenomenal increase in petrol prices, a number of consumers had installed CNG kits and cylinder in their vehicles in a bid to cut the cost of transportation. CNG still costs 40-50 per cent cheaper than petrol in cars.

The CNG dealers had also discussed the draft CNG Policy, 2007, which the petroleum ministry had dispatched to the associations for comments and inputs.

On the government’s plan that no new CNG pump will be set up in residential area, Abdul Sami Khan said that the government should exempt those investors, who had already made investment by purchasing land and equipment and also those who had received license.

For example, he said that in Karachi alone, there are 100 pumps situated in residential areas while 35 new stations have also been approved.

http://www.dawn.com/2007/07/31/ebr1.htm

Daimler Chrysler importing components from Pakistan
RECORDER REPORT
KARACHI (August 03 2007): Daimler Chrysler has placed orders for components worth over a million dollars with Transmission Motor Company (TMC), marking a beginning of a long term partnership with a Pakistani company that would end up in spare parts and complete unit building of electric motorcars in Pakistan, it was learnt on Thursday.

Sources said that the components of first wave were in advanced development stages with supplies to commence shortly. The second wave of components is under consideration for development from leading automotive suppliers. Sources said, "In the wake of combating environmental pollution electric vehicles are gaining global popularity and this US-Pakistan cooperation will be a boon for this fast developing auto sector".

Transmission Motor Company (Pvt) Ltd has been appointed by Global Electric Motorcars (GMC), LLC (A Daimler Chrysler USA company) as their primary sourcing partner for developing and procuring components from Pakistan.

TMC is a fully owned subsidiary of Transmission Engineering Industries Limited (TEIL), quoted on KSE, is developing and producing low-cost automobiles for Pakistani and export markets. GEM cars are producing electric vehicles for the global market.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=5997...m=&supDate=

Good progress in engineering technology.

Yeah, but still a lot needs to be done. Take the examples of REVO and TMC ALIF. Revo is gone and Alif is still struggling to match the popularity of the two stroke ugly 3 wheeler.

This is because of strong Japanese Auto manufacturing mafia in Pakistan.

@Tarbela

Actually, Revo was discontinued by Adam Motors because of lack of funds. Secondly, people were complaining about the quality and design of the car. I hope they launch a completely new car if Revo is to return.

Thanks, nightsurfer'

60 Years of Industrial progress

By Mansoor Ahmad

LAHORE: Despite having no industrial base at the time of independence, Pakistan survived its early years on the strength of good governance its bureaucracy inherited from the British rule.

In its initial years after independence, the planners facilitated the establishment of those industries for which raw material was available in Pakistan. In this process, they however neglected some established engineering industries, which denied the country a good engineering base. Textile, cement and sugar were the industries for which raw material was locally available and these are the main large scale industrial sectors of the country.

The industrial units in Pakistan in 1947 could be counted on fingers. Dalmia Cement Factory at Karachi and Associated Cement Company at Wah together produced 28,000 tonnes of cement at that time, which was not sufficient for domestic needs. The country now has a cement production capacity of over 33 million tonnes, which is in excess of domestic demand.

There was hardly any textile base. Colony Textile Mills Okara was the only textile mill worth mentioning. The area falling under Pakistan produced cotton, which was consumed by textile mills based in India. Today Pakistan is a force to reckon with in textiles. However, the Indian textile industry is much larger and fulfills its domestic needs from locally produced cotton. India, in fact, is the second largest producer and exporter of cotton in the world. Pakistan, on the other hand, has to depend on the import of cotton to run its domestic industry.

At the time of independence, there were 921 registered industrial units in undivided India. Out of these, only 34 units were located in Pakistan, which also included East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Total jobs provided by these industries to a population of over 60 million people were only 26,400. These industrial units were comparatively of small size involving simple processes of production. At that time, East Pakistan produced jute while all the jute mills were located in India.

The Railway Workshop at Mughalpura Lahore was one of the best engineering facilities in the sub-continent. This state-of-the-art engineering workshop of that time is now in shambles. We did not build up the excellent engineering facility Pakistan inherited at the time of independence.

Besides the large Mughalpura workshop, Pakistan also inherited a small base of engineering industries. These industries were established in and around small towns surrounding Lahore. There were a number of small manufacturers in Gujranwala, Daska, Sialkot and Wazirabad, which produced engineering goods such as machine tools, diesel engines (5-50 HP), surgical instruments, oil expellers, fans, cinema projectors, machinery parts and components, etc. Some of these products were even exported.

The surgical instruments’ production is now in shambles. These instruments were being produced since 1908 and their exports commenced in 1930. Besides this, there were 13 manufacturers of machines and tools and about 60 manufacturers of diesel engines.

With an engineering base of such strength in 1947, Pakistan has failed to produce any car, tractor or motorcycle with 100 per cent local components. We are not producing, but assembling cars in the country with 30-60 per cent imported parts.

There were three sugar mills in the country, one was in the then East Pakistan and two in present Pakistan. Total sugar production at that time was 95,000 tonnes per year. Now Pakistan has over 73 sugar mills with a production capacity of over five million tonnes. Actual production varies from three to four million tonnes. The prices of sugar in Pakistan always remain 30-40 per cent higher than the global market.

At the time of partition, Pakistan had no paper or paper board mill. Now it has over 70 such units, some producing fine paper for text books, periodicals and school note books. Cigarette production has increased from 241 million to several billions. There was no fertiliser factory. Now Pakistan produces both nitrogen and phosphate fertilisers. It is, in fact, self-sufficient in urea production.

The country had no edible oil processing industry, no bicycle manufacturing unit, no soda ash plant or polyester fibre unit. Electric bulbs and tube lights had to be imported as there was no such industry. Steel products for construction or other use were imported. Now Pakistan produces these items. The multinational producers of soda ash and PTA though have been given undue duty protection, which has made industries using these materials uncompetitive in the global markets. The energy supply was mainly met from coal and kerosene. The electric supply was limited to main cities as the total power generation capacity did not exceed 60 MW. Today despite outages majority of the population enjoys access to electricity.

The total length of railway track laid by the British was about 12,000 km, which Pakistan inherited. This was an excellent infrastructure, which has now been destroyed to a large extent. We never updated the railway infrastructure, the cheapest mode of goods’ transportation. The goods’ transportation capacity of the railways has declined by 10 times in the last 40 years, increasing the cost of transportation. There has hardly been any addition to the railway track in the last 60 years.

In the agriculture sector, wheat production increased from 3.3 million tonnes in 1947 to 23 million tonnes this year. Rice production rose from 0.68 million tonnes to 5.1 million tonnes. Sugarcane production increased 10 times and cotton production rose 12 times.

According to BBC, though Pakistan’s population was about 23 per cent of British India, it received less than 10 per cent of the industrial units. Economic experts say Pakistan has failed to avail itself of numerous opportunities in its 60 years of existence to move up and become a developed country. The main impediment, which denied the country its true potential, was deteriorating governance.
Governance needs to be improved in order to move on path of development

http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=68242

I agree with this in the 60's we were the chinese of that time, growing at a unprecedented rate. If that kind of growth was kept and good governance we would have easily been a developed country by 1980's. Today we may be behind but if the whole nation has a unified effort to become a developed country we can achieve this goal in all resepects by 2030

Back then, Rather Korean studied the Pakistan system. We lost. Korean got it.

Govt starts work on new steel policy



Friday, August 24, 2007
By Israr Khan

ISLAMABAD: Sensing huge demand and spiraling prices of steel in the international market, the government has started work on formulation of a new National Steel Policy, aimed at tapping 1.42 billion tonnes of proven iron ore reserves in the country.

Initially, the government was focusing on 10 sites located in Balochistan, Punjab and North West Frontier Province, and planned to establish steel mills in these areas in collaboration with foreign and local investors, a source told The News.

A well-placed source in the Ministry of Industries, Production and Special Initiatives said the preparation of a policy draft was under way and the government would provide special incentives to the foreign and local investors.

Under this initiative, the private sector would be encouraged to invest in these areas. They would be provided special incentives like cut in duty or zero duty on imports, provision of land and other infrastructure facilities, the source said.

Setting up of mills at the specified 10 sites would reduce the cost of production and help in catering to the steel demand of the country, the source added.

The selected areas of Punjab where the government wants to exploit steel are Makerwal-Sho (Mianwali) having iron ore reserves of 706 million tonnes, Chichali-Chughlan (Mianwali) (369 million tonnes), DG Khan (56 million tonnes) and Chiniot (17 million tonnes).

In Balochistan, the areas identified are Pachinkoh (Nokundi) containing estimated reserves of 45 million tonnes, Chigendik (Nokundi) five million tonnes, Chilghazi (Dalbadin) 2.47 million tonnes and Dilband (Mastung, Kalat) some 200 million tonnes.

In NWFP, Pezu (DI Khan-Bannu) having reserves of 13 million tonnes and Damar Nisar (Chitral) containing three million tonnes of iron ore deposits have been identified.

At present, Pakistan’s annual steel requirement is about five million tonnes while it produces 4.4 million tonnes (long products 3.678 million tonnes and flat products 0.733 million tonnes). The gap is met through steel imports worth millions of dollars.

Economists believe that in coming years, the country’s steel demand would increase very rapidly, especially if the construction work on five big water reservoirs kicks off.

In the backdrop of huge steel demand in future, the government is now focusing on developing its own resources which would not only boost the local industry, but also help reduce the import bill.

It is also a natural phenomenon that when an economy grows, its demand for infrastructure increases for which steel is a main ingredient.

Sources said a local steel mills’ group was negotiating with Chinese investors to help tap 369 million tonnes of reserves in Chichali-Chughan.


http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=69415

EDB to manage engineering fairs


LAHORE: Engineering Development Board is likely to manage participation in international engineering expos following its success at Hanover Engineering Fair.

The Federal Ministry of Industry took a major shift in its export promotion strategy by allowing the EDB to overlook and facilitate the participation of engineering industry in the Hanover Engineering Fair in 2005.

The News has learnt that after monitoring the impact of engineering sector participation in Hanover for three years, the government has decided to engage EDB for participation in other engineering fairs like the Auto-Mechanica in Frankfurt and car shows at Dubai and USA.

The Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) provided bulk of the funding for Hanover during past three years in which number of participants from Pakistan increased to 35 from a low average of 3-4 participants in previous years.

The number of participants rose to 56 that included participants from Sub-contracting, Industrial Automation and Energy sectors in 2006.

The number of participants increased to 68 in 2007 which added 6 ComVac companies besides the earlier sectors. In 2008 the EDB plans to take along 75-80 companies to Hanover.


The policy makers were pleasantly surprised to note that after three years of participation the orders generated at the Hanover fair now account for around twenty per cent of total engineering exports of the country.

He said EDB persuaded manufacturers from all sub-sectors of engineering manufacturers to explore international markets.

He said out of 65 Pakistani participants ninety per cent received 15-20 trade enquiries that have the potential to turn in to sustainable orders.

The role of TDAP would be limited to providing funding from the Export Development Fund it collects from all exporters.

The export base of the country was limited to few products. Textiles account for over 65 per cent of the exports. Rice and leather exports contribute another 15 per cent. The non-core development items being promoted by TDAP for the last one decade account for only 7.5 per cent of the total exports.

Experts opine that sectoral export promotion councils would be more effective in export promotion activities than centralized and monotonous export development strategy adopted by the TDAP.
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=70030

Hello All,

A very good news is that today on 30th August Aisha Steel ground breaking ceremony is taking place in Pakistan Steel downstream area, the project is brain child of Hasib ur Rehman CEO of Universal Metal Corporation, Metal one corporation and Arif Habib group. The plant will produce 220,000 tonnes of cold rolled coils for automobile and home electronics. The project will employ 450 people and today in Dawn there is supplement on the project. Congrats to all the three parties to mature this project.

Really good news.

Turk company to set up pipe plant in Karachi


KARACHI - City Government Karachi will provide all necessary facilities to Turkish Dizayn Group for setting up of a modern pipe manufacturing plant in defunct KDA Pipe Factory.
This step has been taken to meet the growing demands of pipes in the development projects and to ensure availability of good quality low cost pipes in Karachi.
This was stated by Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal during a meeting with a delegation of representatives of Turkish firms who headed by Turk Consul General Edem Mutaf called on City Nazim in his office on Thursday.

During the meeting Dizayn Group expressed deep interest in setting up of a pipe manufacturing plant in Karachi under city government and public private partnership policy.
Nazim Karachi was informed by the delegation that their companies were not only working in a mega city like Istanbul but they also have activities in other countries too.
http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/aug-2007/31/bnews2.php

China’s Baosteel keen on joint venture



Tuesday, September 11, 2007
By Israr Khan

ISLAMABAD: One of the biggest Chinese steel companies Baosteel is interested to set up a 0.30-million-tonne cold-rolled steel plant in Pakistan as a joint venture with the local Sapphire group.

In this context, a six-member delegation led by Dr Lin Li, Director Strategy and Planning Department of the Chinese company called on the CEO Engineering Development Board (EDB) Abdul Hafeez Chaudhry and discussed investment opportunities in the sector.

A well-placed official told ‘The News’ that this was BAOSTEEL’s second visit to Pakistan to explore investments and markets i.e. demand and supply position of steel in the future. The delegation also visited Board of Investment (BoI) and attended various presentations regarding investment opportunities in the country and met board officials.

It is worth mentioning that in order to cater to Pakistan’s future steel demand; the government has already initiated work on formulating a new National Steel Policy aimed at exploiting 1.42 billion tonnes proven iron ore deposits in the country.

The government would provide special incentives to foreign and local investors to invest in the sector and help develop the steel industry in the country. Initially, the government is focusing on 10 sites located in Balochistan, Punjab and Northwest Frontier Province, and had planned to establish steel mills in these areas with the collaboration of foreign and local investors.

Abdul Hafeez briefed the visiting delegation about increased demand in steel sector on account of economic growth in the country. He added that the gap between supply and demand was increasing and government was desperate to fill it by encouraging foreign investment in this sector. In this regard, he specially mentioned the new projects such as Al-Tuwarqi and Aaysia Steel Mills.

Chuadhry said that the privatisation of Pakistan Steel Mills was expected next year and invited BAOSTEEL to participate in its bidding. It may be recalled that BAOSTEEL had earlier bid for Pakistan Steel Mill and later withdrew their bid due to time constraints.

The CEO also invited the Chinese company to invest in setting up a mini-steel mill at Kalabagh as it was the policy of the government to encourage such units at iron ore sites. Earlier, GM (steel), EDB, S M Adil Shah gave a detailed presentation about investment opportunities in the steel sector and said that the government was drafting a long term policy based on incentives to foreign investors to achieve a production target of eight million tonnes by 2010. He also highlighted that the government has already zero rated duty on import of raw materials for steel making in the current budget.

It is pertinent to note that currently, Pakistan’s annual steel requirement is nearly five million tonnes; while it locally produces 4.4 million tonnes (long products 3.678 m tonnes and flat products 0.733 m tonnes). The reaming shortfall is catered through steel imports which burdens the national exchequer to the tune of million of dollars annually.

Economists believe that in coming years, Pakistan’s steel demand would increase significantly; especially if construction on five large water reservoirs kicks off.


http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=71719

Japan experts upgrade auto vendor units

LAHORE: Japanese automotive experts, placed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA), have upgraded 36 auto vendor units in Pakistan during the last 18 months.

They have provided consultancy services on voluntary basis under the SMEDA-JICA Industry Support Programme, which is being run jointly by the governments of Pakistan and Japan.

The concluding presentation of the upgradation project of Mecas Engineering (Pvt) Ltd was held at the company’s office the other day. The layout of Mecas Engineering has been designed by Japanese expert Kiyoshi Yoshida, which will reduce covered area and travel distance, hence improving productivity.

Mecas Engineering CEO Muhammad Wasim Khalid praised SMEDA and JICA for conducting the upgradation programme for the auto vendor industry. He was of the view that such programmes could change the working culture and thinking pattern of industry stakeholders and workers.

The SMEDA and JICA have been working together to support the automotive vendor industry of Pakistan since April 2006. The SMEDA has associated local teams with Japanese experts in order to carry on the programme even after the departure of Japanese experts.

EDB to prepare plan for foundry industry

ISLAMABAD: The Engineering Development Board (EDB) will prepare Foundry Machinery Development Program (FMDP) with the assistance of the foundry industry.

A task force for this purpose will be made soon and the Pakistan Foundry Association (PFA) will nominate its chairman. The private sector will be given 50 percent representation in it. This was decided in a meeting held here last evening under the chairmanship of Imtiaz Rastgar, Vice Chairman Advisory Committee, Ministry of Industries, Production and Special Initiatives. staff report


http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?p...14-9-2007_pg5_9

Tools show

ISLAMABAD, Sept 17: A 15-member Pakistani delegation of engineering manufacturing firms has left for Germany to participate in “European Machine Tools Show 2007” (EMO).

This is for the first time that a delegation from Pakistan, comprising 13 industrialists and two officials of the Engineering Board (EDB), is attending this event which will provide engineering sector an opportunity to study modern manufacturing technologies. According to an official announcement the fair would conclude on Saturday.

This event showcases wide spectrum of products and technologies from cutting and forming machine tools and production systems to precision tools; automated material flow; software and controllers for all manufacturing technologies; automation systems; measuring, testing and quality management systems; and tool and mould making machines from which the Pakistani businessmen can benefit.
http://www.dawn.com/2007/09/18/ebr3.htm

NESPAK extends engineering services to 34 countries



LAHORE: National Engineering Services Pakistan (PVT) Limited (NESPAK) has extended its activities abroad and it is now operating in 34 countries of the world where it has performed in an outstanding manner by providing high quality engineering services.

Reviewing the performance of NESPAK during the last 34 years, the Managing Director Karamat Ullah Chaudhry, said here Monday that to date NESPAK has undertaken 2,772 projects at home and abroad out of which 2,397 have been completed to the entire satisfaction of its clients. NESPAK is now working on 305 domestic and 70 foreign projects, he added. PPI

Good news from Punjab. Thats alot of jobs.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=6398...m=&supDate=

SIE to provide 60,000 direct, 600,000 indirect job opportunities
RECORDER REPORT
LAHORE (October 19 2007): Provincial Minister for Industries, Muhammad Ajmal Cheema has said the government measures and projects for industrial and social development have started yielding results. The Sunder Industrial Estate (SIE) being the best industrial estate of the country will provide 60,000 direct and 600,000 indirect job opportunities to people.

Industrial estates are being established throughout the province to expedite the pace of industrial development and generation of employment opportunities and their management has been given to the private sector. Cheema said promotion of industrial development and provision of employment was part of vision 2020.

He told a delegation of industrialists in Eid at his home here that the Sundar Industrial Estate project started in 2004 at a cost of Rs 1 billion under the Public Private Partnership and its management was given to the private sector. He said the estate made up of 1,500 acre of land had been provided state-of-the-art infrastructure.

The minister said plots in this industrial estate had been sold and it had its own power generation system. He said pharmaceutical, medicines, chemical, pesticides, plastic, food beverage and other industries were being set up in the estate. He said water treatment plant was also being installed here to provide water. He said there was a labour colony being constructed to provide residential facilities to labourers plus facilities to educate them.


Copyright Business Recorder, 2007

AISHA STEEL MILLS LIMITED was incorporated in may 2005 to set up a state of the Art High Tech Cold Rolling Mills in the Downstream Industrial Estate of Pakistan Steel, Bin Qasim Karachi at a cost of US$ 100 million to manufacture high quality Cold Rolled Coils. The initial capacity of the project is 220000 tons which will be expanded to 350000 tons in the second phase. The project will manufacture Cold Rolled Coils with a thickness ranging from 0.15 mm to 1.5 mm to cater the requirements of the Automobile, Engineering and Domestic Appliances Industries.

http://aishasteel.com/index.htm

Italian company to install compression facility

OMV Pakistan has awarded $100 million contract to 'AAB Process Solutions and Services', SPA, Italy, to install a compression facility at the Sawan gas field. The project will considerably increase the net value of the Sawan asset besides boosting proven developed reserves and prolong the life of the field.

The compression station is planned to be commissioned in Quarter 1, 2010. OMV is the biggest international gas operator in Pakistan and it supplies 16 percent of Pakistan's demand for natural gas.

Sawan gas field is located in Sindh in the central Indus Basin, about 500 km from Karachi. As a partner of an international consortium, OMV is responsible for operation of the field, which was discovered in 1998 and put on stream in 2003.

Sawan is located directly between the markets of the two gas suppliers, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines and Sui Southern Gas Company, which enable OMV to deliver to both networks. QMV Pakistan is 100 percent subsidiary of OMV Aktiengesellschaft. It is actively engaged in exploration and production activities since 1991. OMV (Pakistan) employs 458 Pakistanis and 15 expatriates.

The activities of OMV are currently concentrated in the central Indus region. OMV has invested approximately $150 million in exploration, appraisal activities and field development. It discovered the large Sawan gas field, for which commerciality was declared in December 1999.

http://www.brecorder.com

Descon Oxychem (Pvt.) Limited, a subsidiary of Descon Engineering Limited is setting up a manufacturing plant of Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) with a capacity of 28,000 MTY (50 per cent concentration) at a distance of 18 km from Lahore on Lahore-Sheikhupura Road.

H2O2 is a bleaching and oxidizing agent and is essentially required in textile, paper & food industries of Pakistan to comply with the international and national environment and quality standards. The Project is being financed in debt equity ratio of 60:40. The overall complex will mainly consist of (a) hydrogen plant and (b) hydrogen peroxide plant and utilities area. Chematur Engineering, Sweden is providing license, technical know-how and engineering of the H2O2 complex in association with Descon Engineering Limited. The selected process is up to date, cost effective and is based on state of the art fluidized bed technology.
Allied Bank Limited as Financial Advisor and Lead Arranger has successfully structured and arranged a Limited Recourse Project Finance Facility of PKR 1,100 Million to finance the project being undertaken by Descon Oxychem (Pvt.) Limited.

Abdul Razak Dawood informed the eminent participants that presently the demand of H2O2 is increasing, as it is an Environment safe replacement of harmful CFC based industrial chemicals damaging Ozone layer and Green nature of planet EARTH. Currently the entire demand is met by importing H2O2 thus adding further pressures on the balance of payments for Pakistan.
Descon being a socially responsible corporate is strongly committed to participate in economic development of Pakistan and believes in providing Safe liveable environments.
“Considering that there is an opportunity to manufacture and market H2O2 in Pakistan to meet the increasing demand of H2O2, this green-field project ventures into an untapped market.

http://www.nation.com

Pakistan needs rail-link and expressways.

Both these infrastructure projects should be put high on the agenda, we have been making many many roads and motorways but we still lack railway system with modern trains. Our goal should be to get in touch with Chinese company and make railway because Chinese have 30 year of experience in advanced railway production plus they won Saudi contract too.

After expressway and railway we need to make subway, again Chinese company is best in tunneling projects.

After subway we need modern 21st century airports, ports, bridges, dry ports, air links and extension of all the above to Central Asia and beyond. Only then can Pakistan grow its economy.

Manufacturing of electronic gadgets

The Technology Upgradation and Skill Development Company (TUSDEC) is planning to establish an electronics complex in a bid to promote local manufacturing or assembling of electronic gadgets, especially mobile phones.

The proposed electronics complex will act as a common facility centre for the manufacturers and assemblers of electronic gadgets to help bring down the import bill through local production of the gadgets, a TUSDEC representative told a meeting on the electronics sector, this vital sector was still in its infancy in Pakistan and never became a major revenue generating industry.

The sector basically focuses on consumer electronics, with activities confined to assembly of conventional TV sets, radios, cassette recorders and other allied consumer electronic products from imported CKD or SKD component kits.

The establishment of a common facility centre (CFC) or electronics complex has been proposed to uplift the industry by importing contemporary technology, machinery, obtaining training and skill enhancement together with practical production training. The Electronics Complex, he said, would provide the industry with complete printed circuit solutions commensurate with ‘economy of scale’ as well as expert services for product design and proto-typing. This centre will be equipped with a modern electronics design and quality assurance lab for design. The CFC will contain high-tech Surface Mount Technology (SMT) machines for assembly of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) with both through-hole and surface mount components, he added.

The establishment of electronics complex would not only be helpful in import substitution but also make Pakistan a manufacturing hub of the electronic gadgets.

Domographically Pakistan has an ideal size for starting all kind of industries, since the domestic market woul be able to absorb a lot of them for a while. Once the bases in place, and with that market at hand it could move on to more especific targets and markets.

We have to watch what Pakistani caretaker ministry does in this respect,
I mean betterment of engineering Sector.

‘KTDMC to train 550 professionals annually’



Thursday, November 22, 2007
By M Farhan Zaheer

KARACHI: The Karachi Tools, Dies and Moulds Centre (KTDMC) has been incorporated as a non-profit organisation under the government’s public-private partnership programme and registered under the Companies Ordinance 1984.

The PC-1 was approved by the government and project financing to the tune of Rs515 million which was then extended by Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC). The KTDMC project was conceived by the Ministry of Industries, Production and Special Initiatives in coordination with the state-owned company PIDC and its subsidiary Technology Upgradation and Skills Development Company with an aim to produce high-tech computerised dies and moulds.

Initially, in August 2005, when a group of experts from private sector went to study similar hi-tech training centres in Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. The ground-breaking ceremony of the project was performed by former prime minister of Pakistan Shaukat Aziz on July 29, 2006. The academic block and the factory building were commissioned in July 2007 and onsite classes were started from August 6, 2007.

The project had to start operating in January 2007, which had been late for some months because of the re-enactment of the initial foundations of the project, said Sardar Akhtar Khan, Adviser and Managing Director of KTDMC. Since, the project has been delayed it will affect the output of students.

The KTDMC plans to train about 200 professionals while making practically six moulds up to July 2008, he added. This centre plans to train 550 students annually through both short-term and long-term programmes. The training will include CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Designing/Manufacturing) on highly advanced CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines for making the hollow containers, which are used for shaping and production of automobile parts and accessories.

Beside teaching and training, the factory would also generate revenues from engineering industries which have already placed numerous orders for the manufacturing of dies and moulds. Initial orders for moulds manufacturing have been received from Honda, Toyota, Suzuki and Pakistan Machine Tool Factory.

Currently, the centre has the capacity to produce 10 to 14 dies and moulds annually, said Khan. Around 100 units of CAD/CAM training software installed and commissioned with two classrooms having 50 seats each for lectures and two computer labs for practical learning furnished.

The estimated gross revenue of Rs75 million will be generated by the centre besides reducing the import bill of around US$11 million for dies and moulds. There are six teachers and on-job trainers that and this figure will be raised to 10 in future. However, visiting faculty and advisers are four in number.

The first batch of 25 students started attending classes from August 6, 2007. Short courses at the centre range from six weeks to eight weeks while a full-fledged diploma would be completed in one year. The KTDMC got affiliated with the Sindh Board of Technical Education on May 24, 2007 which provides this institution more significance in technical arena.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=82038

Pakistan seeks iron ore exploring plants from China

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will import plants and machinery from China to be used in the exploration of iron ore as the authorities in Board of Investment (BoI) are working in this regard.

Sources said here Tuesday, the BoI has written a letter in this regard to the Chinese authorities

“The private sector that is working in exploration of iron sector will import plants and machinery and the government has contacted Chinese authorities in this regard,” an official said adding that iron ore has become very important with the rising demand of steel in the country. While talking about the iron ore potential in the country, the official said that the country has over 780 million tons of iron ore spread in Punjab, North West Frontier Post (NWFP) and Balochistan and private sector is working to explore the reservoirs.

Pakistan iron ore contained 35 percent of iron and in China, the iron ore had also 35 percent iron. “Therefore, the machinery and plants manufactured by China can also work in Pakistan,” he said adding that Pakistani private sector had also agreement with Indian privates sector to import plants worth over $300 million.

A high level official in the BOI had also visited China to review the situation to import plants for Pakistani private sector, he said and added the government officials were providing guidelines informing them about plants. The official further said that the prime minister has also directed BoI to initiate process for iron ore exploration to build more steel capacity to leverage full potential of ore. He has also directed to develop these reserves to make available for steel production.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources is also working to update the feasibility study of Kalabagh iron ore reserves, which is the largest iron ore reserves in the country and could cater to the steel production needs of steel mills.

Following the direction of Prime Minister, the Petroleum and Natural Resources ministry is preparing a comprehensive mining plan in collaboration with the private sector investors,” official added. staff report

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?p...1-11-2007_pg5_7

Machine tool, auto parts exhibition starts

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal inaugurated Machine Tool and Automation-Pakistan (MTAP) and Auto and Auto Part-Pakistan (AAPP) exhibition at Karachi Expo Centre on Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Kamal said that the CNG buses will ply on Karachi roads by the second quarter of next year. He said that federal government has provided Rs2.5 billion to city government for sharing the cost of mark-up on the purchase of CNG buses by the private sector.

Kamal said that profitable routes will be awarded to these buses and the government will ensure that the owners should not run away like previous owners of urban transport service. Responding to the demand of various political parties for suspending city governments, he said that provision of civic services to the people including supply of water and sewerage and sanitation was a daily requirement and these services have to be provided on daily basis.

The fair is showcasing the cutting edge technology, featuring all kinds of machine tools, automation, automobiles, auto parts, components & accessories, motorcycles, auto maintenance and repair equipments.

Around 10,000 trade visitors from UAE, India, South Africa, UK, Italy, Spain, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are expected to attend the event while about 150 exhibitors from four countries including France, China, Thailand, beside local assemblers of automobiles and vendors were displaying their products at the fair.

The News, Thursday, December 13, 2007

Great Tarbela and ABBASIA Keep em comming

Second day Machine tools, auto exhibition

KARACHI: On the second day of the show on Thursday, the ongoing auto, auto parts and machine tools exhibition received big feedback from domestic and foreign markets as exhibitors started signing contracts.

On the second day, the international participants were meeting their potential local representatives and business partners in Pakistan at the exhibition and also negotiating several transfers of technology deals with Pakistani entrepreneurs at their production facilities. Adding to some very significant trade contracts signed on Thursday, more such large-scale deals are expected to take place during the remaining days of the show while several other contracts and joint venture MOUs are already under negotiation at the exhibition.

The Export Processing Zone Authority arranged a session on Investment Opportunities for Auto industry in EPZs of Pakistan. The session highlighted EPZA’s one window operation facility and easy procedures for doing business at EPZAs of the country and to establish effective interaction with key personnel.