SITE ASSOCIATION OF INDUSTRY

A BRIEF INTRODUCTION

SITE ASSOCIATION OF INDUSTRY is the representative body of industries in the Sindh Industrial Trading Estate in District West, Karachi. It holds the privilege and honor to represent the industry whose foundation was laid by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Founder of Pakistan who performed the foundation ceremony of the first Textile Mill M/s. Valika Textile Mills on 26th September, 1947. Today, the vision of Quaid-e-Azam has become a reality in the form of SITE, which has provided the complex but crucial impetus to the rapid industrial growth. There are now over 4,500 industrial units of varying sizes in the estate. These include all kinds of textiles, heavy mechanical, beverages, automobiles, silk, oil, soap, foodstuffs, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, steel, glass, cigarettes, paints, filament yarn, ready-made garments, etc.

Visionary industrialists of SITE area realizing the importance of this area realized the need for establishment of a representative body to look after the interests of the entrepreneurs, to develop a common approach to problems, and to provide a base for collective action for presenting their views to concerned authorities, such as SITE Ltd., and the Provincial and Federal Governments. Accordingly, in 1958, a representative body called “Trading Estate Industrialists Association” was formed but was wound up in 1963 due to certain limitations imposed by governmental regulations. A new body was then formed called the “Manghopir (SITE) Association of Trade and Industry” in May 1963, under Trade Organization 1961 and Companies Act 1913 as Town Association. In 1982, on the proposal of general body members the word ‘Manghopir’ was dropped. The word “trade” was deleted in 1986.

SITE ASSOCIATION OF INDUSTRY affairs are directed and managed by an elected Executive Committee and a permanent secretariat. The Executive Committee consists of a President, Senior Vice President, Vice President, and nine Members of the Executive Committee. There are Chairmen of various Sub-Committees to separately handle issues confronting the industrialists.

The Secretariat functions under a full-time, experienced Secretary with supporting staff members who are also attached to Chairman of each Sub-Committee.

Over a period of 56 years, SITE ASSOCIATION OF INDUSTRY has truly become strong and forceful representative body for SITE industries and has significantly contributed towards the well-being of the industrial units. The representative capacity of the Association is well accepted by all concerned. The government agencies having close and direct interest in SITE have acknowledged permanent representation of the Association. The Association is helping the Government to evolve a pragmatic and long-term industrial policy for revival of industrial sector and enhancement of exports.

The Association, along-with S.I.T.E. Ltd., and the Sindh Government is setting up a fifty-acre software park called Indus Technology Park on the Super Highway. The list of achievements of the Association can go on and on.

It is in the fitness of things that while recounting the success story of SITE, due recognition is given to those who founded this Association, and worked hard to make it a vibrant and dynamic organization for promotion of trade interests.