KARACHI: Sixty per cent of industrial plots at the Khairpur Special Economic Zone (SEZ), now said to be a part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), have been sold to Chinese investors, Provincial Minister for Industries and Commerce Manzoor Hussain Wassan disclosed on Tuesday.

Speaking at a meeting organised by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), the minister said the special industrial zones in Larkana and Mohanjedaro are expected to be inaugurated in January 2017. The two zones, spread over 500 acres, have also been linked to the CPEC, he added.

Similarly, Dhabejee, Karachi Circular Railways, Zulfikarabad Industrial Estate and Marble City have become part of the CPEC, he added.

He acknowledged that some industrial zones in interior Sindh collapsed. He proposed to set up a committee to monitor the rehabilitation of five industrial areas of the city.

The minister said the Sindh government was ready to cooperate with business community to promote industrialisation.

Referring to his recent visit to Korangi Industrial Area, he said he pressed Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to use funds one billion rupees allocated for the purpose.

He sought FPCCI’s help in completing documents to access the said amount for the uplift of industrial areas before June 2017.

He further said the Sindh government has already allocated funds in its Annual Development Plan (ADP) for the SITE Superhighway and assured that all encroachments along the route would be removed.

The provincial minister went on to warn the business community to bring back funds parked in Middle East banks, stressing that there was a danger of accounts getting blocked.

The emerging conditions in US and Europe for Muslims might prompt Pakistanis to return to Karachi that offers many opportunities, Mr Wassan claimed.

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2016