Islamabad: Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Wednesday issued directives to the officials concerned to expedite the development of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the country, a news source reported. He expressed his views on the matter during a meeting held to review the progress on the development of the SEZ setups.
Planning Minister Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Power Minister Omar Ayub Khan, Special Assistant to the PM on Information & Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Adviser to the PM on Trade & Investment Abdul Razzak Dawood, Special Assistant Nadeem Babar, and Board of Investment (BOI) Chairman Syed Zubair Haider Gillani were all present at the occasion.
He stated that the federal government would spearhead all the initiatives required to facilitate the establishment of the SEZs – and would collaborate with the provinces on this front. Further, he instructed the officials concerned to address land availability, employment and revenue generation concerns. He reiterated his resolve for making improvements to the executive’s ease-of-doing-business initiative.
The PM stressed that the government should continue to retain competitive ground by incentivizing the technology transfers and relocation of industries from China and other regional countries. He also called for the formulation of an effective awareness campaign in a bid to educate the general public on the ground progress and socio-economic benefits of the SEZs.
The meeting discussed the provision of utilities, amendment in legislative framework to enable incentivisation, promotion of ease-of-doing business, and the implementation of coordination plan between centre and state units for the smooth and effective implementation of uplift projects. The meeting participants were informed that funds worth PKR 2.8 billion had been provided for the provision of electricity supplies to Bin Qasim, Dhabeji, Rashakai and Hattar SEZs in the tax year (2019-20) and four PC-1 are submitted to facilitate the power provision.
Additionally, arrangements are underway to offer 110 million cubic ft/ day (MMCFD) gas for PKR 3.75 billion to various SEZs, out of total 689 MMCFD requirement till 2030.
The meeting was also informed that the work visa and visa on arrival facility had been extended to 67 countries. The meeting suggested implementing plug-n-play infrastructure in all SEZs to attract manufacturing giants to relocate in Pakistan.
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