Govt to take provinces on board for establishment of SEZs: PM

• Imran Khan says all the initiatives for setting up SEZs will be spearheaded by the federal government.
• The prime minister directs to ensure that no effort is spared to ensure their colonization on war footing.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said all the initiatives for setting up  Special Economic Zones (SEZs) would be spearheaded by the federal government while taking the provinces fully on board.

Chairing a meeting to review progress on the establishment of SEZs across the country, the prime minister directed to ensure that no effort was spared to ensure their colonization on war footing.

He also directed for addressing concerns relating to land availability, and creation of jobs and wealth to help turn the wheels of economy.

“We should remain competitive by providing incentives for transfer of technology and relocation of industries from China on the lines of the incentives being provided by other regional countries,” he stressed.

The prime minister said the present government had brought about significant improvement in the ease of doing business in the country. There was need to devise an effective awareness strategy to inform the people about the on-ground progress and emerging socio-economic opportunities to be available after the SEZs' operationalization enabling them to reap the benefits to the fullest, he added.

The meeting was briefed on the provision of utilities, revision in the existing legislative framework for incentivization, facilitation of foreign and local investors and effective coordination between the Centre and the federating units for smooth and effective implementation strategy.

It was informed that funds to the tune of Rs 2.8 billion would be provided for provision of electricity to Bin Qasim, Dhabeji, Rashakai and Hattar SEZs during the financial year 2019-20 while four PC-I had already been submitted for facilitation in provision of electricity. Moreover, additional arrangements were being made for provision of 110 MMCFD gas at the cost of Rs 3.75 billion to different SEZs out of total 689 MMCFD requirement till 2023.

The meeting was also apprised of the revisiting efforts in the existing legislative framework regarding the uniform treatment for all local and foreign investors to ensure 100% foreign ownership and repatriation of profit as well as dividends.

The new legislative framework was being devised to encourage exports, import substitution, and local manufacturing that would check unemployment, current account deficit and facilitate transfer of technology, it was added.

Work visa and visa on arrival facility for 67 countries had already been extended, the meeting was further informed.

It was also recommended to ensure plug n play infrastructure in all SEZs for attracting large foreign manufacturing companies to relocate their facilities to Pakistan.

Minister for Planning Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Trade and Investment  Abdul Razzak Dawood, Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant Nadeem Babar, Board of Investment Chairman Syed Zubair Haider Gillani and senior officials were present during the meeting.