ISLAMABAD: As many as nine industrial zones have been planned to be set up along the rout of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) from Gwadar to Chitral to utilize the natural resources throughout the country.
“These industrial zones would be set up in a period of two to three years with the ownership of the respective provinces”, official sources in Ministry of Planning told APP here on Tuesday. The sources informed that provincial governments have speeded up homework on implementation of these zones, planned to be set up under industrial cooperation between China and Pakistan, being introduced with successful implantation of projects in energy and transport infrastructure sector.
“To take advantage of Pakistan’s natural resources, economic zones will be established under CPEC, one each in all the four provinces, FATA, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and two by the Federal Government in Islamabad Capital Territory and Port Qasim at Karachi”.
The 6th Joint Cooperation Committee held last year had approved nine special economic zones directing the joint work group on industry to ensure its speedy implementation.
It is hoped that relocation of Chinese labour intensive industry would help in generating huge employment in Pakistan.
Furthermore, the sources added that the government had executed its plan of utilizing untapped coal reserves in Thar, a black gold which has a capacity to produce power for 400 years.
They further said with the help of technology in marble mining sector, a modern marble city would be established in Mohamand Agency, FATA.
President SCCI for ‘Special Economic Zone’ status of SEPZ under CPEC
SIALKOT: President Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Majid Raza Bhutta has suggested that Sialkot Export Processing Zone (SEPZ) be given the status of Special Economic Zone under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for enhancing exports from Sialkot, Gujranwala and Gujrat.
In an interview with APP on Tuesday, he said the conversion of SEPZ into Special Economic Zone (SEZ) would enable the business community of Sialkot, Gujranwala and Gujrat to set up their individual industrial units in SEZ.
Majid underscored the need of setting up SEZ in Sialkot and stressed that Chinese investors should be encouraged to bring in their investment and technology. The SCCI President also suggested that government could identify high priority sectors for export and ensure concessions and incentives to encourage the export of respective sectors.
“For the development of export sector and to turn around the declining trend of exports it is imperative for the government to devise a sound sector specific strategy and a vision with defined objectives”, he said.
The SCCI President urged that government should provide special incentives to encourage the export of high priority sectors like textile and clothing, surgical and dental instruments, leather products, sports goods, footwear, gems and jewellry and furniture.
Similarly potential sectors like surgical implants, composite products, light engineering products, printing and packing, sports wear, fitness apparel, gloves and musical instruments etc needed special focus and facilities to perform optimally, he added.
