CPEC SEZs to be made autonomous, says Finance Minister Tarin

ISLAMABAD, Oct 15 (Gwadar Pro) – Pakistani Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin on Thursday afternoon said that the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) being built under the gigantic China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would be made autonomous to provide a conducive environment to the foreign investors.

The minister explained that the autonomous status would initially be introduced in around 6 SEZs within the next 12 months and would be replicated in other zones later.

He mentioned that Pakistan needed to build infrastructure to attract foreign investments. “Since Pakistan was not in the position to build such huge infrastructure, so China provided funds and helped us in building roads, railways, power generation, and other infrastructure, which generated economic activity,” he remarked in an interview at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) on ‘Pakistan’s Economic Future.’ 

Tarin acknowledged that China had helped Pakistan build infrastructure.  To a question, the minister said that there were some projects where companies from China, United States and Pakistan were engaged in joint ventures and collaborating with each other. “This cooperation could be enhanced,” he underlined.

The minister again made it clear that Gwadar port was open to everybody including Europe. “If anybody wants to have business with African countries and the Central Asia States, Gwadar is the right place,” he emphasized.

The minister underscored that the government wanted to attract investment from different counties and that was why it had developed infrastructure. 

“Gwadar is a big opportunity as it is a unique territory covering Gulf, Central Asian republics and even distance to china is also short from this port. Any country can come and invest. Pakistan has been making efforts to attract people from different countries to invest in CPEC Special Economic Zones. We are also approaching overseas Pakistanis for this purpose,” he stated.