PTI govt mulls establishing pharma industry in K-P’s poppy growing areas

Measure is being seen as an alternative to provide employment to people involved in poppy cultivation

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has started mulling over the proposal to establish a pharmaceutical industry in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), which is being seen as an alternative measure to provide employment to the people involved in poppy cultivation.

In addition, the government has also decided to introduce a special investment policy for Balochistan and the newly merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for which,  two separate committees, headed by top officials of Ministry of Commerce have been set up.

According to documents available with The Express Tribune, the two committees will prepare their reports with recommendations and present them to the prime minister’s anti-smuggling steering committee.

Other members of the committee, headed by the Ministry of Commerce officials, will include representatives from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) as well as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary.

The committees will formulate long-term policy aimed at establishment of pharmaceutical industry in K-P areas where most of the employment is generated from poppy cultivation.

The policy will target cut in cultivation of poppy and provide alternative employment to the locals for which the federal government would fully cooperate with the provincial government.
Besides, it has been decided to introduce a special investment policy for Balochistan and merged districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The government has decided to offer incentives to those investing in these areas.

To chalk out a policy, the government will set up a committee led by top officials of the commerce ministry which will also include members of FBR, Board of Investment (BOI) and Ministry of Finance.

The committee will prepare recommendations for long-term special investment policy for Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and send it for approval to the premier.

The proposals would include subsidies, concessions and exemptions on duties and taxation.

A sustainable policy framework will also be chalked out with measures aimed at promoting ease-of-doing business.