KP govt to set up economic zones in merged districts

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Caretaker Minister for Industries, Commerce, Technical Education, and Newly Merged Districts, Dr Aamer Abdullah, has directed the establishment of economic zones in Kurram and South Waziristan tribal districts, initiating the necessary processes.

Dr Abdullah issued these directives while presiding over a meeting at the Civil Secretariat in Peshawar regarding the establishment of economic zones in the newly merged districts of the province.

Present at the meeting were Special Secretary for Industries and Commerce Mohammad Anwar Khan, Chief Executive Officer of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zones Development and Management Company (KP-EZDMC), Javed Iqbal Khattak, Manager of the Business Facilitation Centre (Board of Investment & Trade) Iqbal Sarwar, representatives of HA Consulting, and other relevant authorities.

The meeting meticulously reviewed different aspects of the selected suitable sites for the establishment of economic zones.Attendees were given a comprehensive briefing on the feasibilities prepared by the consultants for establishing new economic zones in the merged districts. The meeting shared sketches, possibilities, and utilities of the establishment of these new zones.

Taking into account various priorities, the meeting agreed on the establishment of two zones in two districts. It was decided that the new zones should be set up in areas where there are no industrial estates of the Small Industries Development Board (SIDB) or economic zones developed by the economic zones company, with an aim to provide maximum benefits to the local population of the area.