RDA adopts Faisalabad model for R3 economic zones

Business community representatives seek investment opportunities along Ring Road

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Ring Road (R3) Special Economic Zones will be developed on the pattern of Faisalabad Industrial Zone, said Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Tariq Mehmood Murtaza said on Wednesday.

He was talking to a delegation of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) at his office.

The representatives of the business community of the twin cities requested the RDA chairman to create special economic zones along the R3 project on the pattern of Faisalabad Industrial Zone. Murtaza assured that demand of the business community would be fulfilled.

The delegation said that the traders of Islamabad are the second biggest taxes payers to the national exchequer. They said that land should be provided to the business community for these zones so that they can invest in it and build models of model industrial zones there. While the traders of Rawalpindi are also in the forefront in paying taxes, so that they should also be given relief, they added.

Murtaza said that the present government is well aware of the problems faced by the traders. He said providing a better and more conducive business environment to the business community is our top priority.

Steps will be taken to implement the recommendations of the traders as soon as possible, he added. The delegation of traders thanked the Chairman RDA.

RDA Director General Ammara Khan, Deputy Director Finance Muhammad Junaid Taj Bhatti, the delegations of the chambers including, RCCI President Nasir Mirza and, ICCI President Sardar Yasir Ilyas, representatives of traders and others participated in the meeting.

According to the RDA chairman R3 will not only reduce the traffic congestion in the twin cities, it will also provide a clean, healthy and safe environment besides making significant contributions to national development. He said that business hubs, industrial zones, transport terminals, wholesale markets, logistic and education hubs, health city, dry port, recreational parks and residential estates would be constructed on both sides of the R3 that would uplift the economy of the region and provide plenty of jobs.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2020.