Sindh seeks Centre’s approval for two projects

Injects Rs100m into Economic Zone Authority as seed money.

KARACHI: The Special Economic Zone Authority (SEZA) Sindh, in its first meeting held here at the Chief Minister’s House on Tuesday, recommended two projects – Khairpur Special Economic Zone and Marble City in Karachi – to the federal government for approval.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who is the chairman of SEZA, announced a grant of Rs100 million as seed money to strengthen and equip the authority.

Addressing the meeting, Shah directed the officers to speed up work on ongoing SEZA projects and prepare project feasibilities for other areas of the province as well.

He stressed that this model of development for which the federal government had passed the Special Economic Zone Act in 2012, would attract investment and promote infrastructure development.

Sindh Investment Board Chairman Zubair Motiwala said the Special Economic Zone was a blanket term used for different types of specialised zones where specific enterprises operated in a well-defined geographical area.

In these zones, certain economic activities are promoted by a set of policy measures that actually are not applicable to the rest of the country.

The Khairpur Special Economic Zone is being set up over an area of 140 acres at a cost of Rs1.488 billion. So far, 55% infrastructure work has been completed. Investors are submitting applications and 30 requests have been received.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25^th, 2013.

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