ISLAMABAD: The government has planned to set up three units of Rashakai Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with a total of $42.2 million investment under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar chaired a meeting to review the progress on the development of Rashakai Special Economic Zone under the CPEC Framework, here in Islamabad, on Friday.

The chairman CPEC Authority, representatives from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the Board of Investment (BOI), and senior officials of the federal and provincial governments attended the meeting.

It was told to the meeting that in the first phase, they plan to set up their first unit with an investment of $79 million to produce 500,000 tons of Rebar/Construction steel. Whereas in the second phase, they intend to set up their second unit for production of Industrial Steel with an investment of $77 million and the total investment for three phases will be $42.2 million.

The representatives of the developers informed that the first unit, steel plant was under construction and would be soon importing its plant and machinery. The meeting was apprised of the progress of work in the SEZ, especially regarding supply of gas and electricity to the Zone. It was informed that 10MW electricity is available for Rashakai SEZ, while the transmission line for another 160MW is under construction and will be completed by November 2021. A further addition is also planned for 2022.

The SNGPL representatives informed that work on the gas supply of 30MMcfd to Rashakai SEZ is underway and scheduled to be completed by the end of December. Representatives from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the BOI confirmed that all the incentives under the SEZ Act are available to the potential investors in the Zone.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021