Minister directs for provision of utilities to 'Rashkai' economic zone

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform, Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar on Tuesday reviewed the progress on Pak-China industrial cooperation and directed the concerned ministries to ensure utilities, including gas and power to Rashkai economic zone.    

Chairing a high-level meeting, Khusro Bakhtyar asked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government to make all arrangements for equal participation of local investors in Rashakai zone.

The meeting was attended by Secretary Planning Zafar Hasan, Project Director CPEC Hassan Daud, officials from Board of Investment, Ministry of Energy and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government.

According to a statement released from the ministry, Khusro Bakhtyar stressed upon the provisional government to develop Rashkai only for industrial purposes and discourage real estate business.

He, while highlighting importance of special economic zones, maintained that the industrial parks would be developed aligned with local available resources.

The minister, on the occasion, said that an industrial cooperation framework is being signed during next Joint Cooperation Committee meeting, scheduled on December 20th, 2018 at Beijing, China.

The framework would help to move forward with relocation of Chinese industries and large scale investment in Pakistan, he added. “The 8th JCC would be foundation to ensure implementation of this important sector,” Minister said.