KARACHI, Aug 30: Investors have shown keen interest in phase II of Karachi Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) where development work is at full swing and is expected to be completed by middle of next year.

This was stated by Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) chairperson Mrs Rukhsana Saleem during a visit on Tuesday of Federal Minister for Industries, Production and Special Initiatives Jehangir Khan Tareen to the KEPZ.

She apprised the minister about the progress of the development of Phase II and said the project was spread over 100 acres and had been duly approved by ECNEC. The development work, she said was being carried in four phases, she added.

Mrs Saleem informed the minister that allotment process had been initiated and response of investors particularly of big industrial groups was quite encouraging. She further said that the facilities being offered to investors in the KEPZ under one-window operations which include fully developed infrastructure, provisioning of all utilities including water, electricity and gas.

The federal minister directed to make all out efforts for removal of all bottlenecks in the acquisition of 200 acres from the Sindh government for further expansion of the zone.

The minister gave policy guidelines and action plans to the EPZA for better progress. He was keen on marketing of the KEPZ and directed the authority to hire services of professional marketing people to hold interactive workshops in the country and aboard to attract investment.