Ahmed Khan Malik

The Khairpur Special Economic Zone (KSEZ) will help speed up industrialisation in Pakistan in general and in Sindh in particular.  “The KSEZ is envisioned to provide best-in-class infrastructure and facilities to both local and foreign entrepreneurs,” said Abdul Azeem Uqaili, the Chief Executive Officer of Sindh Economic Zones Management Company (SEZMC). “The project is ideally located near Tando Nazar Ali on the main National Highway new Khairpur Town, and is set to emerge as splendour of opportunity in the province of Sindh,” he added. Highlighting the key features of KSEZ, he said that Khairpur had competitive advantages that made it ideal for investment, especially in the agro-based industry. “These advantages are predominantly agro-based economy, geo-strategic location, availability of skilled labour, a well-developed road network and infrastructure, growing affluent population and proximity to other important cities.” He said Khairpur was the second largest district of Sindh located in the north of the province. 

Shikarpur and Sukkur districts flank it on the north, India on the east, Sanghar and Nawabshah districts on the south and Nawabshah and Larkana districts on the west. Comprising Khairpur, Ghambat, Kot Diji, Thari Mirwah and Faiz Ganj talukas, Khairpur district extensively benefits from the canal irrigation system, originating from the mighty Indus River. While this densely-populated region has ample workforce to meet all the requirements of upcoming industries, a full-fledged airport, highways and effective telecommunication network give a definite edge to it. Pakistan produces a large variety of fruits and vegetables almost round the year and these are favourite throughout the world for their taste. These fruits mainly include citrus fruits, mangoes and dates. Sindh is the largest dates-producing province of Pakistan as it produces around 350,000 tonnes of dates every year, which account for 52% of the total dates produced each year. The dates are produced on an area of around 279,855 hectares in Sindh.

Khairpur and Sukkur are the main districts with the highest production due to their most suitable climate and soil conditions. Almost 80% to 85% dates are produced in these two districts. Besides, there are a few more areas that produce around 15% of the total dates produced in Sindh. Abdul Azeem, the SEZMC CEO, said that the dates sector offered a fascinating business opportunity to the investors in Sindh. “The highest production and long-practiced date culture make the two districts, Khairpur and Sukkur, as central venue for successful business venturing.”  He said investors could set up date processing plants and industries in KSEZ to get ‘enormous’ profits because of the high quality of dates produced in the region. He said apart from dates, the textile industry could also be set up in this area as the Sindh was the second largest cotton-producing province of Pakistan. He added that cottage industries had also huge potential in this area.

Credit: INP-WealthPk