Senate Committee suggests that SEZs should be set up in less populated areas

ISLAMABAD, Jan 02 (SABAH): A Meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat was held at Parliament House on Tuesday with Senator Saadia Abbasi in Chair.

The Senate Committee deliberated on the Public Petition regarding the establishment of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) near the Hakla Interchange—a project announced by the Board of Investment. The Committee suggested that SEZs should be set up in less populated areas, causing minimal disturbance to built-up and fertile areas, and should be accessible and cost effective. The Secretary of the Board of Investment explained that SEZs are generally established in provinces and controlled by the Federal Government. However, the Federal Government has planned to create a Model Zone adjacent to Islamabad, which will serve as a guiding light for other Special Economic Zones.

Deputy Commissioner Attock Rao Atif stated that the local administration had three sites under consideration, but no site has been finalized yet. After detailed deliberation, the Committee directed the Secretary of BOI and the Punjab Government to jointly carry out a detailed survey to identify a suitable location for the SEZ, which is least populated, with minimal impacts on local agriculture and the environment.

The meeting was attended by Senator Muhammad Akram, Senator Musjtaq Ahmad Khan, Senator Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee, Senator Khalida Ateeb, Senator Kamil Ali Agha, Secretary Board of Investment Muhammad Sohail Rajput, Deputy Commissioner Attock Rao Atif and other senior officials of relevant departments were also in attendance.