Dhabeji Special Economic Zone inaugurated; project to have $2 bn impact

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari inaugurated the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone project in Thatta this month.
As per the papers of Sindh Investment Department, the zone has an economic impact of US$2 billion.
The foreign minister along with the Sindh chief minister inaugurated the project by unveiling the plaque after he was briefed about the benefits and characteristics of the project by the officials concerned.
The project is estimated to generate US$5 billion and will create 100,000 to 150,000 jobs.
The Government of Sindh has allocated 1530 acres of land to be developed as Dhabeji Special Economic Zone (DSEZ) in Thatta, a Priority Project under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which will facilitate the potential investors of China and other countries to either start new enterprises or transfer their facilities to Pakistan, says a government paper on the project.
The location of the zone has 3 major advantages: 1. Easy access of Port Qasim enabling raw material import and finished goods export without incurring major inland transportation costs and saving time. 2. Easy access to Karachi Airport (35 Km) via national highway enabling safe travel of foreign workers and management personnel. 3. Direct access to the National Highway enabling the transportation of goods to upcountry and Central Asian nations utilizing the National Trade Corridor.
Dhabeji Special Economic Zone (DSEZ) to be transformed into an Expatriate Enclave with modern infrastructure and tax incentive package which will include exemption of Custom Duties and Taxes on the import of plant and machinery for the developer and the enterprises.
“The Dhabeji Special Economic Zone will be a public-private partnership project which ensures the economic and social development of the country,” the foreign minister said.
The objective of this project was to create a network of industries in Karachi, he added.
One of the important aspects of the project, which was a part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, is that it was given the status of a special economic zone by the Board of Investment on June 22.
The project will be developed in two phases in which hundreds of industrial units will be accommodated.
The project is being executed through a public-private partnership mode as the Sindh government has provided land to the contractor/developer Zahid Khan & Brothers while the contractor will not only develop the zone but will pay the cost of the land to the provincial government.
As per Development Guidelines, the Joint Ventures (JVs) with Pakistani Companies will be encouraged, export oriented industries will be prioritized and sectors have been chosen in consultation with Chinese and Pakistani Investors/companies and are in alignment with Pakistani Resource Base.
Infrastructure and Facilities include Steel-Foundries, Automotive and Auto parts, Chemical and Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Electronics Engineering, Textile & Garments, Warehousing, Building Material, FMCG, Technical & Vocational Training Centre, Captive Power Plant, Warehouse/Logistics Park, Waste Water Treatment Plant, 5 Star Hotel, Trauma Centre/Hospital, Restaurants, Business center, Auditorium/Expo Center, Fire Station/ Emergency Response Centre, Residential Zone, Common Machinery Pool, Railway Cargo Terminal, Mosque and Banks.