LAHORE, June 27: The Export Processing Zone Authority says all major incentives for the Sialkot EPZ are intact. In response to a June 22 report (Sialkot EPZ fails to attract investors), an EPZA statement said the association with the cooperation of Ministry of industries, Production and Special Initiatives, was pursuing the case of restoration of incentives like duty free import of cement/steel etc and also for further improvement of the package/services.

It said that land mafia was painting a negative image of the Sialkot EPZ whereas genuine investors were ready to commence their investment activities in the zone after the completion of the Sialkot-Wazirabad road.

After the completion of their factory buildings, the EPZA said, two investors had started operational activities whereas seven others were in the construction process. Having a pleasant experience, one of the two initial investors wanted to set up three more projects in the zone.

“In the past, the pace of development work remained unsatisfactory due to the thoroughfare issue which existed for about two years from 19-10-2003 to 25-09-2005, negating the status of the area as EPZ.

However, the said issue now stands resolved and the investors are enjoying incentives/facilities under the EPZ concept, including tax free billing on the bulk utilities.

To provide further edge to minimise the cost of doing business under one-window facilitation system in the real sense, the EPZA is planning to establish a common effluent treatment plant and generation of captive power in the zone to make it a model zone,” the statement said.