Sindh to enhance number of SEZs

Minister invites businessmen to set up units in industrial estates

KARACHI:

The government of Sindh believes in business beyond borders and this was why the leadership efficiently participated in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiatives, said Sindh Minister for Industries and Commerce and Cooperative Department Jam Ikramullah Dharejo.

Speaking at the Sindh Industrial Cooperation B2B Investment Conference (Sindh Chapter) on Monday, he said that Hydro China, Shanghai Powergen, China Ghezouba Group, Fieldcore GE, Siemens Gamesa and Goldwind were few foreign companies that had invested in energy generation.

“Investors are invited in this sector, particularly for Keti Bandar Power Project which is ready for construction,” he said.

Over 25,900 kilometers long road network was stretched all over the province which aided farmers to reach markets and facilitated freight and passenger traffic.

According to Dharejo, establishment of road links has widened the job markets, agri-fields, tourism and travel activities.

“Successful public-private partnership projects on roads like Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas dual carriageway, Jhirk-Mulakatiyar bridgeway and others have benefited people and investors in countless ways,” he said.

He pointed out that the provincial government was also establishing Special Economic Zones (SEZ) similar to Dhabeji SEZ and Khairpur SEZ.

He invited all sectors of the economy to set up business units in the SEZs and take benefit of the incentives mentioned in the SEZ Act 2012.

He added that Sindh industrial estates were established to strengthen the industrial base of Sindh.

According to him, nine sites were developed to boost the urban and rural economy in Sindh.

About 4,450 acres of land in Karachi is allotted to SITE which is one of the largest industrial estate sites in Asia, he said.

“There are around 19,300 small, medium and mega industries all over Sindh and they specialise in services, logistics, manufacturing industrial machinery, electronics machinery, paper, toys and sports material, textile, leather, footwear, furniture, food processing and pharmaceuticals,” he said. “In particular, there are 807 small, medium and mega scale pharmaceutical companies and factories registered in Pakistan.”

He stressed that Karachi’s pharmaceutical sector possessed huge potential.

He expressed confidence that the conference would pave the way for strong relations between enterprises of China and Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2022.

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