Staff Reporter
Islamabad
The Minister of State and Chairman Board of Investment Atif R. Bokhari has said that signing of a mutually beneficial Framework Agreement on Industrial Cooperation under China Pakistan Economic Corridor would realize the vision of special economic zones’ development, ultimately leading to a prosperous and industrial country Pakistan.
He expressed these views while addressing to a Consultative Forum on Draft Framework Agreement on IC under CPEC, organized by Project Management Unit, BOI, said a press release issued by BOI here.
The conference was attended by Secretary BOI, Ms. Fareena Mazha , officials from line ministries and provinces, academia, and representatives of different chambers of commerce and associations.
Chairman BOI said that the first phase of CPEC required the leading role of the government, while the second phase requires a 180-degree change in management and roles of actors.
“It calls for enhanced role of industrialists, the private sector, and the business community, while the government’s role would only be that of a facilitator by devising effective policies, laws, and efficient infrastructure, to facilitate B2B and people to people linkages,”he pointed out.
Atif said that the draft Framework Agreement on IC is being aligned with the long-term framework of CPEC. “A world of opportunities will open up by setting the fundamentals of Industrial Cooperation under CPEC and it is high time for all of us to tap the right opportunities at the right time” he affirmed.
He appreciated PMU of BOI on CPEC IC for obtaining stakeholders’ input and organizing this consultative forum with the true essence of an all-inclusive approach to devise a bona fide document that will create a pragmatic impact on the country’s economy.
He informed that significant progress has been achieved on SEZs development and colonization during the last few months wherein 04 CPEC SEZs; Rashakai SEZ in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dhabeji SEZ in Sindh, M-3 Allama Iqbal SEZ, Punjab, and Bostan SEZ Balochistan are now in advance stage of development. The geographical proximity between China and Pakistan will allow these SEZs to foster economic interdependence for mutual economic advantage, he added.
