Islamabad, March 23 (INP): In a major development, “Gwadar Free Zone (Phase II)” goes into formal action after the initiation of lands’ allocation process and soil testing rolled out by registered companies, Gwadar Pro reported on Wednesday.

The get-going makes a headway within 32 weeks after Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated the Gwadar Free Zone (Phase II) during his visit to Gwadar on July 05, 2021 while launching a number of other development and infrastructure projects including an expo centre, agriculture industrial park and three factories.

According to the report, Agvon, a Chinese company, has formally set in motion its physical work by initiating soil testing investigation, according to its first phase of infrastructure development plan. On allocation of 10 acres of land, the Agvon dredging team is working round the clock.

“As per agreement, Agvon plans to build a state-of-the-art Fertilizer Processing Plant within the stipulated time period,” Mr. Majid, an official of China Overseas Port Holding Company (COPHC) told Gwadar Pro.

“Another company, Hang Geng, has been allocated 10 acres of land. It will launch infrastructure work after finishing the mandatory licensing process as per set rules and regulations,” he added. The company intends, he said, to run a pharmaceutical factory that will produce medicine from animal skins.

“More companies, including Essatex industries, Bari Textile and Idrees Steel, have also entered into agreements. Each of them has also been allocated one acre of land and following the completion of prescribed modalities, procedures will be seen in action soon,” he expounded.

Apart from this, another COPHC official said that there is also a big company that aspired for the allocation of 7.5 square km of land out of a total of 9.3 square km of land of Gwadar Free Zone phase II. This company announced to invest from $3 billion to $4 billion that will churn out more than 30,000 jobs.

A senior official of Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) said that with the operation of Gwadar Free Zone Phase II (under-developed), Phase I (already completed and functional), export-oriented economic activity in Gwadar Port will generate $ 10 billion per annum. Gwadar Port’s infrastructure has already been completed by China Overseas Port Holding Company (CPHC).

Gwadar Free Zone Phase II, designed with unique needs of manufacturing, trading and service industry, will be the beneficiary of tax exceptions, incentives and tax concessions available to investors of the zone issued by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Gwadar Tax Free Zone Rules, 2021.

According to the draft rules issued by FBR, a goods declaration in respect of goods imported for a free zone along with other documents shall be presented.

The exemption granted under the Customs Act and Gwadar Port Authority Ordinance, 2002 are applicable to plant, machinery, equipment, apparatus and materials to be used solely within the limits of the free zone and to goods imported into the zone by investors.