Ahmed Khan Malik

Balohistan government will develop Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Sui, Balochistan, which is an ideal area of the province thanks to its huge reserves of gas.

These reserves will help the industrial sector to set up the industries for export purposes because gas is the basic energy of any industry, Shahid Baloch, Director of Balochistan Industries Department, told WealthPK. 

He said that development of EPZ in Sui has been planned and work would start on it soon as the provincial government is in the process of consultation with the federal government.  He said the government has allotted land for it and the development work would be kicked off soon. He urged the investors to enhance their investment in the industrial and technology sector of the province.

“Under the leadership of Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, the provincial government is taking amicable measures for the development and the results will appear in the recent future. The establishment of the economic zone will help create employment opportunities for locals and the entire province will benefit from its associated benefits,” he added. He said the provincial government had decided to expedite the development work on the special economic zone to boost significant economic activities in the province.

He said apart from Sui, the government has also been working on setting up such zones in other parts of the province.  Balochistan lags behind the other provinces in terms of industrialization due to various reasons. The fragile law and order situation, poor infrastructure and civic facilities as well as long distances have discouraged the industrialization in the province, which is the largest province of the in terms of the area.  Industries are largely concentrated in Hub district, which is close to Karachi, with few processing factories and plants of mines and minerals located in Quetta and its surrounding areas.

Director said that provincial departments have been tasked to develop and implement policies that encourage industrialization, investment, and economic diversification, ensuring a favorable business climate in Balochistan.  Basit Khan, business leader in Chaman Association of Industry said that Balochistan possesses enormous industrial potential in key sectors — agriculture, livestock, fisheries and minerals.

There are great investment opportunities in all sectors of the provincial economy for exploiting the industrial potential of the province.  A large number of agro-based, livestock-based, fisheries-based and mineral-based industries can be set up in the province. He said proper policy formulation and its execution is needed to promote the industrialization in the province. He pointed out that the absence of infrastructure is the single most important reason that discourages investment for industrial development in Balochistan.

It is the most backward province, which is also far behind from other provinces in road sector development.  He noted that establishment of Free Trade Zone, and Export Processing Zone (EPZ) will open the doors for investment and development of small, medium and large scale industries generating revenue for the government and providing profitable avenues for both the skilled and non-skilled workforce in Balochistan.

Credit: INP-WealthPk