ISLAMABAD: The Board of Investment has identified 41 sites for establishing special economic zones (SEZs) to boost the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Reform was informed on Tuesday.

The committee’s meeting was presided over by Abdul Majeed Khan Khanan Khail.

“We need to pave the way for export-oriented businesses to reap full benefits of the CPEC,” Mr Khanan Khail said, adding that the committee would like to know what incentives were available for local investors as there were rumours there were little benefits for them.

The committee was informed that seven SEZs had been notified by the BOI so far.

It was informed that there was no difference between incentives given to local and foreign investors in the SEZs.

The BOI has devised a comprehensive plan for development and management of an industrial park under the CPEC incentives for both local and foreigner investors in the SEZs.

The committee was informed that the 41 sites had been selected after consultations with the provincial, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan governments and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas secretariat.

The members recommended setting up of vocational and technical training centres in the zones for local people.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2017