CPEC focus shifts to development of SEZs to spur industrialisation
In the second phase of CPEC, there is a pronounced emphasis on industrialisation, notably through the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
Speaking to WealthPK, Jamshed Ahmed, Investment and Industrial Specialist at the CPEC Authority, which functions under the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, said in 2016, Chinese experts were commissioned to conduct site visits aimed at evaluating the feasibility of potential locations for SEZs. “The main objective was to determine which sites were the most suitable for industrial development, and initially, 34 to 39 sites were identified as appropriate and feasible for the purpose.”
He said the provincial governments were also taken on board to reach a consensus on their preferences regarding the sites suitable for SEZs. He added nine zones and areas were subsequently identified as potential sites for SEZs.
Ahmed said that four zones, one in each province, were identified and listed as priority areas with plans for expansion to other regions thereafter.
