Islamabad: The federal government is committed to launch Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Islamabad and Karachi this year, a news source reported. These SEZs are to be launched CPEC and government is keen to be done with formalities for the launch of the two zones in an expedited manner.
The report quoted a senior government official as saying that these federal SEZs are to serve as models for Chinese investment. He further added that it was the priority of the federal government that the CPEC proceeds into the next stages of industrial cooperation in 2018. The economic zones will be used as model for provinces to replicate and provincial governments could follow the pattern in development of their own SEZs.
1,500 acres of land for the Karachi SEZ has already been allocated out of Pakistan Steel Mills, while the land for Islamabad SEZ is yet to be finalised. CDA has been directed to find a compact piece of land within a 20-kilometre radius of Islamabad and submit a detailed report about it. The two options being considered in this regard include railway land around Golra Railway Station and Thalian on the outskirts of Islamabad on the motorway.
