Khairpur SEZ named among Asia’s best industrial zones
PHOTO: REUTERS
Pakistan’s Khairpur Special Economic Zone (SEZ) has been named a “Highly Commended Zone” in the fDi Intelligence Global Free Zones of the Year 2025 awards, highlighting the country’s growing industrial and investment potential.
Khairpur Special Economic Zone, has earned international recognition in the FT Global Free Zones of the Year 2025 Awards by fDi Magazine.
Recognized as one of the best in the world & runner up in the Asia-Pacific . Sindh has consistently performed to international standards.… pic.twitter.com/cv8LNK6cz1— Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (@BBhuttoZardari) October 14, 2025
Published on October 9 by fDi Intelligence, a division of the Financial Times, the awards evaluated 45 industrial zones worldwide for their performance in manufacturing, logistics, governance, and investment facilitation.
While Brazil’s ZPE Ceará claimed the top global title, followed by Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone, Khairpur SEZ emerged as the regional runner-up in the Asia Industrial Zone of the Year category.
Read: CM announces plans to reactivate SEZA
Established in 2012 by the Government of Sindh, Khairpur SEZ focuses on agro-processing and allied industries, leveraging its strategic location along the National Highway N-5, about five hours from Karachi. The zone has become a hub for cross-regional trade, attracting domestic and foreign investors.
Recent initiatives include a fruit pulping and packaging plant by Al Rhaim Agri-Processing and a cold storage and packaging facility by Bio Masdar. Judges praised the zone’s resilience against tariff and non-tariff barriers, promotion of local sourcing of dates, rice, and fruits, and commitment to sustainable value chains.
The recognition underscores Pakistan’s growing potential in agri-industrial exports and the government’s strategy to strengthen regional supply chains amid global trade disruptions.