Ahmed Khan Malik

The Mirpurkhas Industrial Park in the southeastern Sindh province is grappling with significant infrastructure challenges, hindering its growth potential. Despite its strategic location, the park lacks adequate facilities, better connectivity, and sufficient government support, area industrialists told WealthPK. One of the critical issues facing the park is unreliable water supply, Secretary of Industrial Forum Mirpurkhas Mr. Nizamuddin said.

He criticized the water department for erratic supplies. Delayed opening of canals from Jarwari Station leaves the storage ponds unfilled. Additionally, the area experiences up to 16 hours of power loadshedding at the pumping stations, further complicating the water supply situation, he pointed out.

Deteriorated road infrastructure is another factor hindering the industrial growth, he said, adding that the road network connecting Mirpurkhas to the neighboring districts like Badin, Umerkot, and Tharparkar was in a state of disrepair. “An important road linking Badin with Mirpurkhas has been neglected for years, despite approval from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for construction. Lack of progress has caused significant inconvenience to the residents and hampered the movement of goods and services,” he said.

Nizam also pointed out lack of basic amenities in the area like the other industrial areas of the province. “The industrial estates across Sindh, including Mirpurkhas, are plagued by the lack of essential services such as water, gas, solid waste management, and law and order,” he said. Business leaders had already pointed out these deficiencies but the provincial government did not take adequate steps to resolve these issues, leading to a worsening situation over the years.

Rohan Mahmood, an area industrialist, said poor infrastructure at the Mirpurkhas Industrial Park had deterred investment and stifled industrial growth. Lack of reliable utilities and transportation infrastructure makes it challenging for businesses to operate efficiently, leading to reduced productivity and economic stagnation in the region. The province needs new industries as well as expansion in the current ones to generate employment for the people of the district as well as of the neighbouring districts, he said.

He believed that improving water and power supply, rehabilitating road networks, and providing basic amenities were the essential steps for creating a conducive environment for industrial growth. “Concerted efforts from both provincial and federal governments, along with active participation from the private sector, are necessary to revitalize the industrial landscape of Mirpurkhas and contribute to the broader economic development of Sindh,” he added.

Credit: INP-WealthPk