Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday to review the progress of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the Board of Investment (BOI) and the Ministry of Planning.
According to a press release, officials from the SIFC briefed the participants on the latest updates regarding the infrastructure and operational status of SEZs across the country.
The minister emphasized the importance of ensuring investor facilitation, noting that imposing excessive costs on investors could deter their interest. He stressed that providing efficient and investor-friendly facilities should be a top priority of the government.
He highlighted that Pakistan’s development trajectory has faced hurdles over the past 77 years.
Drawing lessons from countries such as China, South Korea, Vietnam, and Malaysia, he identified political stability, peace, policy continuity, and reforms as the four key elements for sustainable development.
Citing Turkey’s rapid progress under Tayyip Erdogan’s leadership and India’s growth despite challenges like corruption, Ahsan Iqbal underscored the importance of consistent policies for economic growth.
He expressed concern about the disparity in economic performance between Pakistan and its regional counterparts, urging a long-term commitment to economic reforms.—APP
