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PRESS RELEASE

Muhammad Ayub Sheikh, Chairman, All Pakistan Contractors Association (APCA) chaired a meeting of Executive Committee of APCA. In the meeting in addition to the organizational matters important problems faced by Contractors and construction industry were discussed. Chairman APCA expressed serious concern that quit a number of projects in the country were running at slow pace or closed due to non availability of funds. Chairman APCA stressed that the federal and all the four provincial governments should not curtail the development funds on any ground and that the required funds for the completion of ongoing development projects may be provided on war footing because closure of development projects is resulting in unemployment thereby creating law and order situation. Chairman APCA stated that more then 40 industries dependent on the development projects are on the verge of closing and if that happened a large number of workforce will loose their jobs. Chairman APCA stated that Pakistani labour is returning home from Middle East and other countries because of recession and need of hour is that not only the ongoing projects should continue new projects should be launched so that skilled and unskilled construction workforce is employed. Chairman APCA stated that it is an accepted norm of all times that the economic crisis is fought by launching infrastructure projects which provide jobs to unemployed labour and this way the wheel of industry moves. Muhammad Ayub Sheikh, Chairman APCA stated that government should take immediate notice of the prevalent price of bitumen and cement because in the international market the price of the crude oil has been reduced from US$ 147/- to US$ 36/- per barrel but the price of bitumen and cement have not been reduced proportionately. Chairman APCA stated that there is a monopoly of bitumen and cement manufacturers and because of the both government and the people are bearing undue financial burden. Chairman APCA urged upon the federal government to take immediate steps for the reduction of the prices of bitumen and cement and that the bitumen price be reduced from the current price of Rs.38,000/- to Rs.25,000/- per matric ton in bulk and that of cement from Rs.330/- to Rs.220/- per bag. Chairman APCA expressed his concern about the harsh attitude of Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) with the Contractors in the grant, up gradation and renewal of license with the result that the contracting profession is suffering decline instead of capacity building. Chairman APCA assured the Executive Committee and members of the Association that he would meet Chairman PEC along with a delegation for solution of the problems faced by Contractors at the ends of PEC. Chairman APCA further assured that he will take up the problems of Contractors and construction industry with the government particularly implementation of PEC Standard Form of Bidding / Contract Documents, Revival of Circular No. 1(693-D) PP&H /PD/2005 dated 2nd November, 2006 issued by Planning Commission of Pakistan on payment of escalation, appointment of Federal and Provincial Construction Ombudsman and reduction of income tax. Chairman APCA stated that he will visit all the four province and meet the local Contractors with a view to provide solution of the problems of the contractors in the remote areas of the country.

 

MUHAMMAD YUNUS KHAN

Secretary General

Cell: 0333-4385459

 

Muhammad Ayub Sheikh elected APCA Chairman unopposed

LAHORE: In the 11th Annual General Meeting (AGM-2008) of All Pakistan contractors Association (APCA) Muhammad Ayub Sheikh, Director, M/s. Husnain Cotex Ltd, Lahore, has been elected unopposed as Chairman of the Association. Mr. Naeemuddin A. Siddiqui, Chief Operating Officer, M/s. Ziauddin Ahmed & Co. (Pvt.) Ltd, Karachi, Engr. Syed Ashfaq Hussain, Chief Executive,            M/s. Karcon (Pvt.) Ltd, Peshawar, Mr. Zahir Khan, Chief Executive, M/s Zahir Khan and Brothers, Quetta and Engr. Arshad Dad, Managing Director, M/s Qavi Engineers (Pvt.) Ltd, Islamabad, have been elected unopposed as Vice Chairmen, Sindh, NWFP, Balochistan and Islamabad Capital Territory respectively. Engr. Akber Sheikh, Managing Director, M/s. Guarantee Engineers, Lahore, Engr. Ahmed Ghazal Usmani, Managing Director, M/s. Usmani Associates, Karachi, Engr. Shahid Rafiq, Director, M/s. Habib Rafiq (Pvt.) Ltd, Islamabad, Engr. Muhammad Humayun Khan, Chief Executive, M/s. Standard Construction Company, Karachi, Engr. Zafarullah Khan,
Chief Executive, M/s. Zee Khan Associates (Pvt.) Ltd, Lahore, Engr. Syed Iqbal Yunas,
Chief Executive, M/s. Technicon Enterprises, Peshawar, Engr. Muhammad Saeed Shamsi, Chief Executive, M/s Potential Engineers (Pvt.) Ltd, Lahore, Sardar Muhammad Ishaq Khan,
Chief Executive, M/s. Buildeco Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd, Lahore, Haji Fazal Kadir Khan Sherani,
Chief Executive, M/s. Sherani Brothers, Quetta, Ch. Muhammad Habib Kanwal, Chief Executive, M/s. Uni Build Associates (Pvt.) Ltd, Lahore and Mr. Abdul Hafeez Chaudhary, Chief Executive, M/s. A.H.C. & Company, Rawalpindi have been elected unopposed as Executive Committee Members for the year 2008-2009. The AGM assured full support to the newly elected Chairman, Vice Chairmen and Executive Committee. Muhammad Ayub Sheikh, Chairman APCA thanked the Executive Committee and members of the Association for electing him Chairman of the Association and assured that he will attend to all the problems of the contractors whole heatedly and will try that most important problems of implementation of PEC Standard Form of Bidding/Contract Documents and revival of circular of escalation are solved immediately.

 

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Construction industry vital for economic growth and infrastructure development: Prime Minister

 

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the construction industry is very important for country’s economic growth, infrastructure development as well as employment generation. The government, he said, would take steps for solving its problems and ensuring its growth and progress.

The Prime Minister said this while talking to a delegation of All Pakistan Contractors Association (APCA), led by Engr. Shahid Rafiq, Chairman, All Pakistan Contractors Association (APCA) who called on him at the PM’s Secretariat this evening.

The Prime Minister asked all the concerned ministries to adopt a concerted approach in consultation with the representatives of APCA for removing the difficulties, which the construction industry is facing.

The Prime Minister asked the construction industry to train manpower not only for meeting the country’s domestic requirements but also the needs of the foreign markets. He asked the representatives of APCA to keep liaison with government bodies like TEVTA and NAVTEC in this regard.

The representatives of the construction industry assured the Prime Minister that despite operational difficulties they would gear up efforts so that the government’s vision of ensuring housing for all can be achieved.

The Prime Minister was apprised that the construction sector provides direct employment to unskilled labour who are trained in various disciplines. He was further informed that 29 local technology based industries are directly related to the construction business.

APCA delegation also briefed the Prime Minister about the potential in the construction sector with regards to improving national economy, infrastructure development and employment generation in addition to meeting the housing needs of the people.

The Prime Minister was further informed that the construction sector of the country is almost entirely working within the country and if it gets organized the sector has the potential of exporting its labour as well as consultancy services which can help the country earn foreign exchange worth billions of dollars.

Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Chairman FBR, Secretary Communication, Secretary Industries & Production, Secretary Housing, Engr. Shahid Rafiq, Chairman, All Pakistan Contractors Association (APCA), Muhammad Ayub Sheikh, Vice Chairman APCA (Punjab), Engr. Kamal Nasir Khan, Vice Chairman APCA (Balochistan) Engr.  Abdul Karim Khadim, Vice Chairman APCA (Balochistan) Engr. Arshad Dad, Management Committee Member APCA and Engr. Syed Ashfaq Hussain, Management Committee Member APCA also attended the meeting.


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Government committed to providing shelter to every citizen:

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the government is committed to providing shelter and other basic facilities of life to every citizen of the country, particularly the poorest of the poor. For this purpose, a meeting of the Steering Committee on Housing Development was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat on Monday.

The Steering Committee was constituted by the Prime Minister to figure out the modalities for realizing the programme of constructing one million housing units for the low income group. He had made this announcement on the floor of the National Assembly on March 29.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Sindh and NWFP who were highly appreciative and expressed complete satisfaction over this housing programme.

They informed the meeting that their respective provinces would extend all out support to the federal government in realizing this programme as it targets the poor segment of the society.

The Ministry of Housing was given a task to strategize the vision of the Prime Minister to provide affordable housing to middle class and lower middle class through mortgage financing or easy installment financial plans and to provide housing to the government employees on or before retirement.

After detailed deliberations on various proposals, the Prime Minister constituted a committee to look into the details of such proposals and come up with final recommendations within one month.

The Committee comprises Federal Ministers for Finance and Housing, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission; Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Sector; Governor State Bank; Secretary Housing; Secretary Finance; Chairman FBR; Chief Secretaries including Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Engr. Shahid Rafiq, Chairman,                All Pakistan Contractors Association (APCA) and Muhammad Ayub Sheikh, Vice Chairman, All Pakistan Contractors Association (APCA).

The meeting also decided for setting up provincial steering committees on the pattern of Prime Minister’s Housing Steering Committee for better coordination with the federal government.

Decision was also made for the establishment of Land Banking for Prime Minister’s housing programme, besides computerization of Land registration system and reviewing zoning regulations.

Earlier, Minister Housing in his presentation highlighted the salient features of the housing development programme.

He informed the meeting about the operational strategy which includes the creation of Land Bank, establishment of a management company or a housing authority, high rise apartments and row houses in major cities through pilot projects or joint ventures, construction of incremental housing facilities in the semi-urban and rural areas for the poorest of the poor.

He briefed the meeting that the strategy in the pipeline would also focus on row houses and open plot development in urban centers, intermediate towns and rural areas, redevelopment of prime urban land where public buildings are either dilapidated or slums have been created, reforming legal frame work affecting foreclosure, transfer, tenancy, rent control and acquisition of immovable property, strengthening of local construction industry and attracting foreign investment.

The meeting was attended by the Minister for Finance, Naveed Qamar; Minister for Housing, Rehamtullah Kakar; Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour; Deputy Chairman Planning Commission; Special Assistance to Prime Minister on Social Sector; Governor State Bank; Federal Secretaries, other senior officials, Engr. Shahid Rafiq, Chairman, All Pakistan Contractors Association (APCA) and Muhammad Ayub Sheikh, Vice Chairman (Punjab), All Pakistan Contractors Association (APCA).

 

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