KARACHI, July 19: The country will have six Export Processing Zones by the end of this year.

This was stated by the Chairman of Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA), Lt-Col (Retd) Syed Akbar Hussain, while talking to APP on Friday.

He pointed out that the first was established almost 22 years ago in Karachi while the second one was inaugurated at Sialkot only last month by the Governor of Punjab.

Col. Hussain stated that by August 14, the country will have yet another Export Processing Zone, this time in Gujranwala.

He said an Export Processing Zone will be established with the Chinese collaboration at Saindak.

The chairman, EPZA, said that the Chinese are mining copper, silver and gold there and in an year’s time they would be able to export about 20,000 tons of copper and mixed silver and gold about six tons annually.

He stated that an Australian firm, BHP, have a site for the Export Processing Zone about 20 km off Saindak. This firm is investing about 175 million dollars and will only be mining copper.

Col. Hussain said that the sixth Export Processing Zone will be set up either in Faisalabad or Lahore.

He said that apart from these, there are plans for the setting up of Export Processing Zones at Gilgit, Gawadar, Pasni and near Hub.

In Sindh the Export Processing Zones will be established at Sukkur, Hyderabad and Nooriabad.

The chairman, EPZA, said that these Export Processing Zones will have tremendous impact on the country’s exports as around the world these are known as development tools.

He said Taiwan, Malaysia and Korea are the products of Export Processing Zones.—APP