BOA approves two multi-industry, four sole enterprise SEZs.

ISLAMABAD -- The Board of Approvals (BOA) has approved six zone applications for grant of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) status, which will together bring in infrastructure investments worth $540 million. Federal Minister for Board of Investment (including Chinese and other FDI) and Special Initiatives, Chaudhary Salik Hussain chaired the 8th meeting of the Board of Approvals (BOA) in Prime Minister's Office, Islamabad. Members of BOA from parliament, federal ministries, provincial governments, SBP, provincial BOIs, FPCCI, Pakistan Business Council and senior officers including Secretary BOI Asad Rehman Gilani were in attendance. In the meeting, six (6) zone applications for grant of SEZ status, from Government of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, were placed before the BOA for consideration. After detailed deliberations and discussions, the forum approved two multiindustry and four sole enterprise SEZs. These included Challenge Fashion SEZ, Lahore, Punjab; IVI Junction SEZ, Rajanpur Punjab; Fatima Cement Limited, Dera Ismail Khan, KP; Premier Cement Limited, Dera Ismail Khan, KP PFB (Pvt) Limited, Thatta, Sindh; and Roshan Sun Tao Paper Mill (Pvt) Limited, Sheikhupura, Punjab. All six SEZs are private sector projects. The four Sole Enterprise SEZs will together bring in infrastructure investments worth USD 540 million. It is significant to highlight that out of these 6 SEZ projects, 4 SEZs will be located in under-developed districts. As regards the other two, one is the first of its kind export oriented SEZ, whereas the other one is the first ever multi-industry Chinese SEZ project with 100% private investment. Salik hoped that these newly approved SEZs will not only contribute towards industrialization but will also help in export generation and transfer of technology while creating job...