The Department of Industry indicates that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has experienced industrial closures, with 229 units shutting down amidst growing unrest and inadequate government support.
According to the Department of Industry, out of 2,563 industrial establishments, 2,010 are still operational in different zones of the province.
The closures include 177 units in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zones Management and Development Company (KPEZMEC) and 52 in the Gadoon Economic Zone. Despite these setbacks, construction is underway at 324 new industrial units, demonstrating efforts to rejuvenate the sector.
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This downturn mirrors a broader issue across provinces, as highlighted in a recent session of the Sindh Assembly, where officials reported the shutdown of 81 industrial entities over the last five years due to ongoing power shortages. These included prominent sectors like textiles and sugar.
In the session, Ali Ahmed, Parliamentary Secretary of the Industries and Commerce Department, reassured that the provincial government is collaborating with industrialists to mitigate these challenges. However, Ali Khurshidi, Leader of the Opposition, voiced concerns about the effectiveness of these measures, prompting Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani to clarify that further details fall under the labour department’s purview.
Despite the closures, Ahmed highlighted that 6,856 industrial units are still operational province-wide, and 915 new units have been launched. This indicates silence in the industrial sector despite prevailing challenges.
