Balochistan govt to expedite uplift work on economic zones

Three districts declared as marble cities to facilitate investors, empower locals

ISLAMABAD: Balochistan Minister for Commerce and Industries Muhammad Khan Utmankhail on Sunday said the provincial government has decided to expedite development work on special economic zones to boost significant business activities in the province.

Talking to APP, the minister said the government has initiated the development work on eight special economic zones in collaboration with the federal government. He, however, urged the Centre to expand its financial support for Balochistan's special economic zones to create and promote economic activities in the province.

Utmankhail reviewed the plan for setting up 13 border markets at the adjacent border areas of Iran and Afghanistan. “The federal government's assistance is required for developing infrastructure including communication network, water supply and electricity in the market areas,” he added.

Balochistan was rich in mineral reserves due to which the provincial government had declared three districts as marble cities to facilitate the investors and help empower underprivileged locals economically, the minister mentioned.

Unemployment, he said, is one of the major challenges for the province however believed that the trained and skilled workers would soon get jobs.

"With the establishment of special economic zones, employment opportunities will be created for 30,000 locals and entire province would benefit from its associated benefits,” he added.

Uthmankhail said the provincial assets and other resources will be utilised for the progress and prosperity of the people under proper planning.

“Seventy industrial units are functional and working at the eastern bypass of industrial zone Quetta,” he said, adding that the government was working to ensure provision of more facilities including electricity, water and natural gas to the masses.

Earlier, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani chaired the 7th session of Balochistan Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) here in Quetta and reviewed the agenda and progress on provincial economic zones.

During the meeting, the Balochistan government approved Rs40.7 million grants for provincial economic zones and corroborated the agenda with some amendments.

Balochistan Minister for Secondary Education Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind, Finance Minister Zahoor Buledi, Muhammad Khan Tor Utmankhail and Chief Secretary Balochistan Capt (retd) Fazeel Asghar were present on the occasion.

Secretary Industries and Trade Ghulam Ali Baloch presented the authority’s agenda which was unanimously approved by the meeting.

The meeting directed authorities to finalise their rules and regulations while also announcing vacancies for the post of the chief financial officer and chief operation officer in the Industrial State Development and Management Company.

While reviewing rules for Hub, Gadani and Bostan economic zones, Kamal approved new building rules for provincial economic zones and directed the authorities concerned to ensure the provision of infrastructural facilities, including gas, electricity and water in the zone sites.

“New industrial policies in Balochistan will rebuild the confidence of private investors which will also promote economic and business opportunities in the province,” Kamal said while addressing the meeting.

Expressing consensus over the policy for allotment of land and lease agreements in Bostan, Gadani and Hub economic zones, the meeting also approved the by-laws for provincial economic zones.

Secretary Industries assured the meeting that BEZA will be registered in Security Exchange of Pakistan and briefed the chief minister regarding provincial government’s proposed 13 markets on Pak-Afghan and Pak-Iran borders.

Kamal lamented over previous government’s poor policies with regards to the provincial economy, and added that Balochistan is replete with natural resources but they weren’t utilised properly owing to a lack of interest.

“In order to implement good governance, we have to take harsh decisions to boost the provincial revenue,” he said, adding that Hub and Gadani economic zones will change the province’s fate due to their locations near the sea.

(With additional input from news desk)

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2020.