Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the Special Economic Zone at Dhabeji is being developed through a private partner at a cost of Rs18 billion to provide `plug and play' facilities to the investors within the next five years.
This he said while speaking at the signing ceremony of the concession agreement with ZKB, a private partner for development of the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone. The ceremony was attended by provincial ministers, advisers, leading businessmen and senior bureaucrats.
The chief minister said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has achieved significant milestones through joint efforts of the governments, enterprises, and people of both countries. "The first phase of the CPEC, which focused on energy and infrastructure projects, met its successful completion. Now, the second phase is set to boost Pak-China cooperation in agriculture and initiate an era of industrialisation through establishment of special economic zones," he said.
Dhabeji Economic Zone is a flagship project of the Sindh government and one of the priority initiatives under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Shah said that the project has been launched under the public-private partnership mode. "We had received a number of bids, but after a long evaluation process, ZKB has been finalised as the developer of the project," he said. He added ZKB would develop its complete infrastructure, including roads, electricity, water and such others required for a leading economic zone.
Talking about the economic benefits of the project, the CM said that it would attract an investment of over $5 billion and to generate 200,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities. He added it was one of the largest PPP projects of the country in terms of investment and infrastructure with no viable gap fund (VGF) and no debt. A jetty to connect Port Qasim with Dhabeji zone has also been envisaged to facilitate export-oriented industries.
He said a dedicated railway cargo deck from the zone to ML-1 near Dhabeji junction (Mainline1) was being planned.
Headway made in Ather Mateen murder probe
CM Murad Ali Shah said he has formulated short, medium and long-term policies to control street crime and overall law and order situation in the province, particularly in the city of Karachi.
This he said while talking to the media at three different locations- at CM House, late Athar Mateen’s residence and Election Commission office, said a statement on Tuesday.
These policies include, making all the officers right from Additional IG Police Karachi to police post in-charge responsible for the criminal activities in their areas, recruiting more police officers and constables, and implementing Safe City Project.
Shah said police have solid clues. “It is at the investigation stage, and I do not want to expose the secrecy so that the killers could be combed out,” he said.
Earlier, CM visited the residence of Athar Mateen and offered condolences over his death with his brother and met the daughters of the deceased.
Shah told the newsmen not to air fake news. “The looting of 100 citizens at Korangi Causeway was totally unfounded and airing of such news creates a wrong impression that the police have failed,” he said and added this was the same police which have restored law and order in the city.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2022.
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