Islamabad, May 3, 2019: Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan on Friday informed the Senate that nine Special Economic Zone (SEZs) would be set up including in Bostan (Balochistan) under the umbrella of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Responding to various questions during question hour, the minister said a feasibility report for establishing SEZ in Bostan had already been received and he has no information about shifting of proposed SEZ in Bostan to Lasbela.
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He said Board of Investment (BoI), being the secretariat of Industrial cooperation from Pakistan side and being the Secretariat of the Approvals Committee and Board of Approvals under SEZ Act 2012, provided every possible support and hand holding to the provincial governments, for early development of their SEZ.
In this regard, Bol also framed a template for bankable feasibility studies besides arranging training on SEZs for the officials of the Government of Balochistan, he said.
Ali Muhammad said the development of SEZs in the provinces is the domain of the provincial government and as such, Industries and Commerce Department, Government of Balochistan has prepared detailed feasibility on SEZ Bostan and submitted the same to BOI on December 11, 2018.
He said on receipt of the feasibility study, BOI once again requested the Government of Balochistan on February 27, for submission of their formal SEZ application through their respective SEZA to BOI under the provisions of the SEZ Act, 2012.
Despite the lapse of considerable time and repeated follow-ups, no SEZ application for a declaration of SEZ Bostan has been received so far to BOI.
He said it was significant to mention that exact date and time for the start of work in the SEZ Bostan can only be ascertained after the receipt of SEZ application from the Government of Balochistan to BOI.
