PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan formally performed the groundbreaking of Jalozai Economic Zone on Wednesday.
“A game-changer for the area, the 257-acre Jalozai Economic Zone, which is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), will facilitate around 50,000 direct and indirect jobs with expected private sector investment of Rs8 billion,” said a statement issued on Wednesday. “Being in the proximity of the provincial capital and adjacent to the engineering university campus and new housing scheme, the economic zone offers promising potential to the private investors and entrepreneurs who either intend to expand their existing businesses or to come up with new startups. “
Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony as chief guest, CM Mahmood Khan termed the development of Jalozai EZ “highly important and a dire need of the hour”, as it would not only create employment opportunities in the area but would also boost economic and industrial activities in the province.
“The provincial government is taking result-oriented measures to promote economic activities in the province with an aim to provide maximum employment opportunities to the people badly affected due to the prevailing corona situation,” the CM remarked. “We will soon announce the inauguration of other economic zones as well, including those planned in Chitral, DI Khan, Hattar etc.”
The CM informed that work on the groundbreaking of the flagship Rashakai Economic Zone was in the final stages, and that its ceremony would soon be performed by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“The promotion of housing and construction sectors is among the top priorities of the PTI government and as per the vision of PM Imran Khan, concerted efforts are being made under a well-devised plan to extend maximum facilitation to private sector investors.”
Khan further informed that the provincial government had recently approved amendments in the relevant rules and regulations to make the cumbersome process of private investment easier, adding that the provincial government would provide locally produced electricity to industrial units on cheaper rates through the newly introduced wheeling system to attract more investment.
“Due to the availability of labour at local level, industries like pharmaceutical, food processing, construction, marble, granite, food packaging and furniture will benefit from investment in the new economic zone,” the CM opined.
Responding to the allegations and criticism of opposition parties against the provincial government, Mahmood khan challenged them to carry out an inquiry into any mega project of the provincial government by any investigating agency of their choice, saying that the provincial government would come out clean every time.
“Those who are enjoying power in a particular province for the last 15 year, have rendered the province into ruins, and we advise them to focus their attention on the well being of their people.”
The well placed Jalozai Economic Zone is connected to federal capital through M-1 Motorway, Torkham and Azakhel Dry Port which adds to its strategic strength. Industrial products from the Jalozi EZ could find themselves in high demand areas like Afghanistan, Central Asia, China and urban centres in the region. So far, around 400 applications have been received from private sector entrepreneurs for investment in the economic zone.
