By Ahmed Khan Malik
KARACHI– Badin’s Small Industrial Estate (SIE) is suffering from severe deterioration due to the poor basic infrastructure and insufficient essential services, Wealth Pakistan reports.
This industrial estate was established to promote entrepreneurship and support small and medium-sized industries in the district.
Business owners, workers, and community representatives believe that unless the government takes urgent steps, the estate will remain underutilized, depriving the region of the much-needed economic growth and employment opportunities.
Vision for Local Manufacturing and Small Enterprises
The estate was envisioned as a hub to encourage local manufacturing, agro-based industries, and small-scale enterprises. However, decades later, it still lacks the fundamental facilities required for industrial success.
Stakeholders cite poor road conditions, unreliable electric supply, insufficient water supply, and inadequate drainage as the biggest obstacles preventing the estate from fulfilling its potential.
One of the most glaring problems is the condition of the roads leading to and within the estate, Saeed Gopang, Secretary of the Badin Small Industries Association, told Wealth Pakistan.
He said broken and uneven roads make transportation of raw materials and finished goods extremely difficult. Heavy vehicles often get stuck in mud during the monsoon rains, causing delays and additional costs for businesses.
Power Shortages Disrupt Production
“A truck carrying machinery or supplies often takes hours to cover what should be a 15-minute distance,” lamented Saeed. “This alone discourages investors from setting up new units here.”
He said power shortages remain another major hurdle. Frequent power cuts and voltage fluctuations damage sensitive equipment and disrupt production.
“We cannot operate modern machinery with such an unreliable power supply,” said Gopang, noting that many units are forced to rely on costly generators.
Water supply also remains inconsistent and insufficient, compelling entrepreneurs to arrange water tankers at their own expense, which not only increases production costs but also limits the expansion of water-intensive industries, Mola Bux Narejo, a cottage industrialist, said.
In addition to utilities, he said the absence of a proper drainage and sanitation system has worsened conditions. During the rainy season, the estate often becomes flooded, leaving workers unable to reach their workplaces and damaging infrastructure.
Stagnant water also creates health hazards, discouraging skilled labor from seeking employment in the area.
Potential for Economic Growth and Employment
He argued that the estate, if properly developed, could become a significant driver of economic activity in Badin. The district has long struggled with limited employment opportunities, forcing many workers to migrate to Karachi and Hyderabad.
With functional infrastructure, the estate could support hundreds of small industries, generating thousands of jobs and encouraging local entrepreneurship.
Government Indifference Leaves Estate Underutilized
Unfortunately, due to government indifference, many plots in the estate remain vacant, while the existing units operate far below their capacity.
“We came here with high hopes of contributing to the local economy, but without government support, it feels like a losing battle,” said Narejo.