Pakistan should jump to medium and high-tech productions export from resources-based and low technology, an official said.
Zuhfran Qasim, Director policy and planning at Prime Minister’s Office, Board of Investment (BoI), said while speaking at a seminar entitled as ‘CPEC Challenges and Opportunities’ that exports of Pakistan are 80% resources-based. An interactive session that was organized by Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in association with Prime Minister’s office, BoI and ministry of planning development and reforms.
“Chinese industries by relocation to Pakistan can help in improving efficacy of low-skilled labor-intensive industry and highly influential in transfer of technology, channeling the scale of economies, and value addition to production chains in different sectors such as agriculture and industry”, said Qasim
Shamim Ahmed Firpo, president of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry said CPEC would revolutionize the corporeal infrastructure, energy, and human resources. Firpo added that CPEC would aid in technological advancement in Pakistan leading to improved infrastructure that will improve connectivity.
He further said the capacity of CPEC to take local economy to fast-track by increasing demand for goods that are manufactured locally. This demand increase will allow to use prevailing manufacturing potential but will also encourage to enhance their manufacturing capacity.
The KCCI president said that it will help to make opportunities for employment and generous amount of income to national economy. The only need is to bring more transparency to affairs related to CPEC to minimize level of apprehension in private sector.
Hassan Daud Butt, project director of CPEC said that the website www.cpec.gov.pk has information on CPEC that is updated on regular basis. Shah Jahan Shah, Additional Secretary at BoI said that the role of private sector is of crucial importance for industrial cooperation associated to projects of CPEC.
“The driving force for economic is to gain the development of trade and industry. Government is about to form advisory groups for discussing economic modalities of zones under CPEC projects”, said Shah said.
Th group of experts will have KCCI representatives for46 special economic zones planned by government along with route of CPEC.
He added that now under short- and medium-term plan 9 zones will be built while other will be under long term plan. CPEC’s project will generate 10,400 MW electricity after completion.
Naheed Memon, Chairperson of Sindh BoI said that 2 special economic zones (SEZs) have been proposed under CPEC in Dhabeji and Keti Bander in Sindh.
“Dhabeji SEZ is the priority as its market place is good spread over 1,000 acres of land, will displays collaboration between Pakistan and China industries,” she added. “More such economic zones are intending to establish in this area.”