Engineering Post Report
Groundbreaking ceremony of Dhabeji Special Economic Zone under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework in Thatta, Sindh has recently been performed .
Dhabeji SEZ is located at an ideal location of being close to the ports of Karachi and Port Qasim and likely to create about two lakhs direct and indirect employment opportunities on its completion and operationalization and even during while its construction work is progress. On completion it will provide a platform encouraging both local and foreign investors to set up industries and manufacturing units. Some Chinese investors have already expressed their eagerness to establish their industrial units in Dhabeji SEZ where a huge investment of $ 5 billion was already being anticipated. It is expected that some Chinese giant entrepreneurs may relocate their industrial units in Dhabeji SEZ to take advantage of the proximity of two sea ports.
This expected influx of local and foreign investment in the Special Economic Zone at Dhabeji will hopefully inject much needed capital into the national economy and also pave the way for transfer of advanced technologies, fostering innovation and enhancing productivity. Furthermore, it will also be encouraging growth of ancillary industries and supply chains, promoting a multiplier effect and generating a ripple of economic development in the surrounding areas of Sindh province.
Provision of ten years tax holiday to the investor, both local and foreign, besides a number of tax exemptions on import of plants and machinery are indeed quite appreciable and steps in the right direction. It has been suggested by some quarters that Dhabeji SEZ should be made a green energy zone through provision of electricity from renewable energy sources like wind and solar thus not only reducing the production cost of industries but also making their products of the industrial units competitive in the international market.
