Imran Khan presided over a meeting in the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) on Monday (11 October), during which he directed all concerned authorities to take all possible measures to provide land, utility connections, and tax incentives to entice Chinese companies to invest in Pakistan and open units in SEZs.
During the meeting, Imran Khan stressed the fact that Pakistan requires investment so it can boost industrialization. Imran Khan said, “The creation of maximum employment opportunities is critical for the growing population of Pakistan, 65% of which is under the age of 35.”
Imran Khan was also briefed prior to the meeting that the following SEZs are taking place in full swing:
- The development of Dhabeji SEZ in Sindh.
- Rashakai SEZ in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
- Bostan and Gwadar SEZs in Balochistan.
- Allama Iqbal Industrial City in Punjab.
He was also told that in each of these zones, an effective one-window facility was being established and that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority was establishing a facilitation center to help handle the difficulties of potential Chinese investors.
Mineral sector
PM Khan, who was chairing a separate conference on the mineral industry, said it had the potential to provide outstanding returns to investors.
Imran Khan said, “The mineral sector can also contribute to the overall economic growth of the country.”
To promote mining sector growth, the prime minister stressed the importance of coordinated efforts between the federation and provinces. He advocated for the appointment of a focal point to serve as a link between the federal and provincial administrations and to oversee the execution of the mineral development framework.
Furthermore, Imran Khan said, “International models should be studied for lessons and capacity building of indigenous human resources to be employed for mineral sector development.” He urged that the mineral development framework’s goals and targets be met within the timeframes set.
Earlier in the meeting, the petroleum secretary gave a presentation on the strategic plan for the mineral sector’s development.
According to the PM, the mineral sector currently contributes to less than 1% of GDP, but if the strategic plan is implemented, it will increase to 10% in the next 15 years.
Harmonization of federal and provincial initiatives, technical outreach, database building, fiscal incentives, human resource training, and the preparation of a legal framework are all part of the strategy.
