Government approves SEZs in Hub and Bostan

QUETTA: Balochistan Investment Board Chief Executive Farman Zarkoon has termed the federal government’s approval of special economic zones in Hub and Bostan a significant step forward for Balochistan’s development on which work would be launched in July this year.

“These projects will provide employment for about 100,000 people”, he said, adding that the Bostan Economic Zone would be set up on 200 acres of land in the first phase which would cost Rs500 million and provide employment for more than thirty thousand people in the fruit processing, agricultural machinery, mineral sectors of precious stones, cold storage, electrical appliances, motorcycle assembly, pharmaceuticals and halal food industries.

The Hub Economic Zone, Farman Zarkoon said, would be set up on a total area of 406 acres, would cost Rs4 billion and would include the chemical, food, cement manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, power generation, oil lubricants, blending, marble, metal processing, mineral grinding and steel grinding industries. Engineering and other industries will be established as well, he said, adding that the initiative was being launched in accordance with the directives and vision of Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani.

He further said that the Balochistan Investment Board was taking steps to promote industrial activity in the Special Economic Zones. “We have made all arrangements for the development work which will begin soon”, he said.

Bostan Industrial Zone: Bostan Industrial Zone under second phase of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) comprised of 1,000 acres of land on which various types of industries would be established.

Balochistan government has decided to provide basic facilities to the area during the development of Bostan industrial zone. Infrastructure, including roads, street lights and other facilities would be provided by the government during the construction of the zone. According to official website of CPEC, 200 acres of the land allotted for the zone has been developed.

The zone would connect to Quetta Airport at a distance of 23 kilometres. At a distance of 713 kilometres from the zone, the land connected to Karachi seaport and another 976 kilometre from the zone, Bostan Industrial Zone would connect to Gwadar.

Quetta dry port would be at a distance of 32 kilometre from the zone while highway N-50 would be adjacent to the land, according to official details.

Earlier, Balochistan Minister for Commerce and Industries Muhammad Utmankhail had urged the federal government to expand its financial support for Balochistan’s SEZs to create and promote economic activities in the province.