PM emphasises need for job creation for youth

Directs authorities to focus on attracting Chinese investors to SEZs

ISLAMABAD:

The creation of maximum employment opportunities is critical for the growing population of Pakistan, 65% of which is under the age of 35, said Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Chairing a meeting on facilitating Chinese investors in the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) on Monday, he directed the authorities concerned to take all possible measures to provide land, utility connections and tax incentives to attract Chinese companies to invest in Pakistan and set up units in SEZs.

He stressed that Pakistan needed investment to accelerate industrialisation.

Earlier, the prime minister was told that out of the total of 27 SEZs in the country, the development of Dhabeji SEZ in Sindh, Rashakai SEZ in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Bostan and Gwadar SEZs in Balochistan and Allama Iqbal Industrial City in Punjab was taking place in full swing.

He was also told that an effective one-window facility was being set up in each of these zones and the establishment of a facilitation centre was underway in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority to help resolve the issues of potential Chinese investors.

Mineral sector

While chairing a separate meeting on the mineral sector, PM Khan underlined that it possessed the potential to offer excellent returns to investors.

“The mineral sector can also contribute to the overall economic growth of the country,” he said.

The prime minister underscored the need for coordinated efforts between the federation and provinces to accelerate mineral sector development.

He called for appointing a focal person to act as a bridge between the federal and provincial governments and supervise the implementation of mineral development framework.

“International models should be studied for lessons and capacity building of indigenous human resources to be employed for mineral sector development,” he said.

He called for achieving the goals and targets for the mineral development framework within the stipulated timelines.

Earlier, the petroleum secretary briefed the meeting about the strategic plan for mineral sector development.

The PM was told that at present the mineral sector contributed less than 1% to the gross domestic product (GDP), however, the implementation of the strategic plan would enhance its share to 10% over the next 15 years.

The plan envisages harmonisation of federal and provincial efforts, technical outreach, database development, fiscal incentives, training of human resources and preparing a legal framework.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2021.

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