ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) Tuesday approved establishment of the Hub Special Economic Zone at the cost of Rs2.28 billion to provide basic amenities to various industrial sectors in Balochistan.
As per the documents, the Hub SEZ would be set up on a total area of 406 acres, facilitating industrial units of chemical, food, cement manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, power generation, oil lubricants, blending, marble, metal processing, mineral grinding and steel grinding industries. The initial cost is estimated to be Rs4 billion.
The special industrial zone in the Hub area of Lasbela district with the capacity of 100 new industrial units is aimed at creating ample job opportunities for locals.
The meeting of the CDWP held was chaired by Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan. Senior officials from the Planning Commission and federal government also participated. The representatives of the provincial governments participated through video conference.
Meanwhile, the CDWP also approved another five projects worth over Rs14 billion and recommended another project worth Rs25.226 billion to ECNEC for consideration.
Four projects related to health, higher education and industries and commerce were presented in the meeting.
Two projects related to health were presented in the meeting. The project titled “Strengthening Civil Registration & Vital Statistics System” worth Rs201.917 million was approved in the meeting. The project will create a revamped model of registration of all vital events (births, deaths, marriage etc) in Model Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). Second project namely “Balochistan Human Capital Investment Project” worth Rs5,616.985 million was approved in the meeting.
Two projects related to higher education were presented in the CDWP meeting. First project namely “Ph.D Scholarship under US- Pakistan Knowledge Corridor” worth Rs2,5226.274 million was referred to ECNEC. This program will develop collaboration between Pakistan and renowned US institutions to transfer new research techniques focused on Pakistani needs.
The project will also bring opportunities to develop research projects and build capacity in the higher education system of both the partner countries. Second project namely “Jalozai Campus of UET Peshawar” worth Rs6,535.32 million was approved in the meeting.
Two projects related to Information Technology namely “E-Office Replication at Division of the Federal Government ” worth Rs689.653 million was approved by CDWP. The major objective of this project includes replacing the e-office/filing system in all Ministries/Divisions to achieve the goal of internal efficiency and effectiveness. Second project titled “Feasibility and System Definition Study (FSDS) of Pakistan Satellite Navigation Program (PSNP)” worth Rs780 million was also approved in the meeting.
Seven concept clearance projects were presented in the meeting wherein two projects are associated with the World Bank and five projects are linked to the Ministry of Finance.
