Government’s plan for Chinese industries in CPEC was outlined by the Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal.
Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal announced on Wednesday that Pakistan would allocate land for Chinese industries as part of its efforts to encourage industrial migration from its ally and neighbor, China.
In September, Iqbal established a seven-member panel tasked with developing a policy framework to facilitate the relocation of Chinese industries to Pakistan. This initiative aims to strengthen industrial collaboration under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The government previously reported completing over 50 projects worth $25 billion under CPEC, a key component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. An additional $65 billion has been pledged for infrastructure projects in Pakistan, a country with a population of 241 million.
During a meeting with the industrial migration panel, Iqbal instructed officials to identify suitable locations for Model Special Economic Zones and prepare a detailed concept paper for their establishment. He emphasized that Pakistan would provide the land, while Chinese companies would oversee the infrastructure and market the zones.
The panel, led by the additional secretary of the Board of Investment, includes representatives from the Commerce Ministry, Ministry of Industries and Production, Finance Division, State Bank of Pakistan, Federal Board of Revenue, and the CPEC Secretariat.
Subsequently, its primary mandate is to identify obstacles to industrial relocation, propose solutions, and design an incentive package to attract Chinese investments, making Pakistan more competitive within the region.
Moreover, ensuring the security of Chinese nationals and their interests, often targeted by insurgents, remains one of the most significant challenges for Pakistan.
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