SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES OF SINDH
About Sindh
It is widely acknowledged that
Pakistan has immense economic
potential. According to a report
published by Price Water House
Coopers in 2017, Pakistan is
projected to become the world’s
20th largest economy by 2030 and
16th largest by 2050.
According to Sindh Bureau of
statistics, during the FY16-17,
Sindh contributed around 30% to
the Pakistan’s GDP which in
nominal terms is around USD88bn.
It could do much better than this
had its potential been utilized to full
extend.
Sindh Province is blessed with a host
of attractive business and investment
opportunities. Its competitive
advantage rests on its strategic
location as major seaports, along
with its extensive industrial
infrastructure, 350 km long coastline
and the potential to generate
renewable energy, abundant fertile
land, plenty of agricultural, natural &
mineral resources, better educational
system, a young and educated
workforce and a politically strong and
stable government. This has given
the impetus for some of the world's
leading multi-national corporations to
set up their bases in Sindh.
Sindh’s diversified economy also
comprises of a well-developed
agricultural base supported by an
effective irrigation network on the
Indus. This provides immense
opportunity for setting up export
based agro-processing industry in
the province.
Endowed with coastal access, high
quality agro-based raw materials,
ample amount of natural and
energy resources, Sindh is a major
center of economic and commercial
activity and has a highly diversified
economy. Therefore, it offers a
great deal with regards to
investment.
About SEZ
Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is an
area with specified geographic
boundaries where different and
specific enterprises operate under
business and trade laws that vary
from the rest of the country. They
are of special interest to both
domestic and foreign investors
because of the lenient custom
duties and taxes.
Successful SEZs offer immediate
access to high-quality infrastructure,
uninterruptible power supply, clearly
titled land, public facilities, and
support services
In addition, streamlined regulatory
enforcement, simpler business and
establishment rules, expedited
customs administration, and other
special administrative and approval
procedures are also offered in such
zones.
SEZs help the economy in a number
of ways:-
 Attracts FDI, which with itself
brings foreign technology.
 Increases Exports
 Improves Infrastructure
 Creates jobs.
 Increases the living standards of
the neighboring areas.
Investors can enjoy a number of
incentives and facilities :-
 Attractive fiscal benefits
 Legally and clearly titled Land
 High Quality Infrastructure
 Utilities (Electricity, Natural Gas,
Water)
 Communications (Telephone and
internet)
 Security
 Medical Facilities
 Recreational Facilities
 Banks
 Warehouses
 Residential Zones
 Training sectors
SEZ Framework in Sindh
The province of Sindh was the first
to place a milestone in bringing the
SEZs to the country, the first to
move on the Special Economic
Zone status. The act was
formulated in 2012 and later
amended with following core
incentives:
 Exemptions from all custom
duties and tax collection on the
import of capital goods for
development and execution of
operations under SEZ.
 Exemption from tax on all
income that is accruable in the
process of developing and
maintaining the SEZ.
 A provision of all basic
infrastructure and utilities is
guaranteed.
A detailed study of Sindh’s economy
suggests that it will benefit from
investments in transport, energy,
value-added agro and industrial
sector.
The SEZs that already exists in the
province and the ones whose
proposals and plans are underway,
both focuses on the above mentioned
sectors thus providing an ease of
business for the investors in these
areas.
The main objective of developing the
SEZs in Sindh is to utilize the
province’s potential to its maximum,
hence benefiting the investors as a
return.
There are three SEZs in Sindh
starting from Khairpur Economic
Zone which by SBI’s contrivance was
the first to be laid down, followed by
Korangi Creek Industrial Park and
Bin Qasim Industrial Park under
NIP.
Sindh’s Special Economic Zones vary
in scope and function. Some are
designated geographical spaces
where special policies and measures
support specific economic functions.
Others include free-trade areas,
industry parks, technical innovation
parks and bonded zones that
facilitate experimentation and
innovation over a wide range of
industries.
About Khairpur SEZ
A zone at Khairpur is being developed
as a future hub for agro food
processing and allied industries in the
proximity of dates, banana and other
horticulture producing area. The
construction work on the infrastructure
components is in progress.
KSEZ is located on 140 acres land in
the proximity of date growing areas,
ideal for setting up date processing
and packaging plant for exporting
different varieties of date to get high
price for this value added product in
the international markets. This special
zone will have state-of-the-art
infrastructure, efficient design, easy
access to labor and training facilities
and quality logistic services.
The zone will provide inherent
benefits of essential supporting
amenities to small, medium, and large
enterprises to grow and flourish in a
global market place.
The initial construction work has been
laid down, many companies have their
plants on ground in their last stages of
completion, around 90% of the land
has been leased and what remains
now is for the SEZ to start working at
full throttle.
The industrial cluster comprises
of Fruit/vegetables processing &
packaging, Flour & Spices Mills,
Dairy/Bakery Products, Bottled
Water, Seed Processing & Feed
Mills, Composite and other
organic Fertilizers, Chipboard &
Cotton Ginning, Date
Dehydration, Farm Equipment &
Implements, Packaging and
Building Materials.
Once in progress, the Khairpur
economic Zone is expected to
generate thousands of
employments opportunities for
locals and could end up being
districts major source of revenue.
About Korangi Creek Industrial Park
Spread over an area of 250 acres,
Korangi Creek Industrial Park is
aimed at provision of world class
infrastructure to industrial
enterprises.
The project is the first of its kind in
the country and is envisioned to
create a self-sufficient industrial
community, entailing a
comprehensive master plan geared
around the idea of strategically
clustering specific industries,
perimeter wall with controlled entry
and exit, well designed road network,
48 megawatt captive power plant and
provision of essential utilities
including water, natural gas and
telecommunication.
The location itself is highly strategic as
Karachi Sea Port is at distance of
22km, Quaid-E-Azam International
Airport at 20km, Super Highway at
30km, National Highway at 34km and
Port Qasim at an access of 30km.
Feasibility studies suggests clusters for
the park are light engineering, food
processing, consumer and
pharmaceutical products, printing and
packaging, value added textiles leather,
information technology and gems and
jewelry. The features of this project
coupled with provision of one -stop -
service aim to create a hassle free
environment for both the local and
foreign industrial entrepreneurs.
It is envisioned that this milestone
project will create significant job
opportunities ranging from 25,000
to 30,000 for skilled and semi-
skilled workers thus contributing to
the GDP growth of the country.
Development cost of the entire
project would be in the range of Rs
3.3 billion with investment potential
worth Rs 40 billion once it
becomes fully operational
About Bin Qasim Industrial Park
Bin Qasim Industrial Zone is the
largest industrial area of Sindh
Province. It is spread over an area
of 25000 acres of land of Bin Qasim
Town area. This area offers
enormous potential for local and
foreign Investment.
BQIZ has a great potential having
abundance availability of land
spread over 25,000 acres a
dedicated Industrial Zone annexed
to the Port Qasim, It is the first
Industrial Port of Pakistan which
caters 40% of the cargo movement
having dedicated terminals for
Containers, Grains, Edible Oils,
Chemicals, Petroleum, Coal and
Iron Ore.
Furthermore, having easy access to
National Highway and Super Highway,
Karachi Airport and comparatively
improved Law and Order tops it all of for
the investors.
Bin Qasim Industrial Zone has great
potential to grow and expand rapidly its
annual requirement for expansion is
between 50 to 75 MW where as there
are only two grids stations to facilitate
the industries. More grids construction
is underway. Similarly pipelines for the
industrial requirement of natural gas are
being set up and the existing
enterprises will be fully operational in
about 2 months time.
Also a direct investment of Rs.50 billion
is expected.s
Bin Qasim Port is the oil hub for
the country, it got 2 oil terminals
with a total capacity of 10 million
tons of furnace oil per annum.
The area already owns 31,000
acres and as many as 180
industries are operational and
other 257 units were in the
pipeline. Industrial clusters include
Light Engineering, Auto & Allied,
Foundry and Fabrication,
Pharmaceutical & Food
Processing, Warehousing &
Logistics.
The feasibility studies suggests
that at full operational capacity,
BQIZ is expected to contribute to
Rs.100billion in GDP.
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Route
SEZs PROPOSED UNDER CPEC
Sindh’s tremendous strategic
development potential is being
hindered by severe energy shortage
and lack of proper infrastructure. In this
regard, China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor is set to alleviate the crisis, as
a result provide the investors and
entrepreneurs a start-up for their
investments and businesses, by
investing nearly $34 billion in the
energy sector arranged by private
consortia. Which regularly amount to
over 4500 MW and has shed an
estimated 2-2.5% off Pakistan’s annual
gross domestic product.
This investment includes the Quaid-i-
Azam Solar Park in Bahawalpur,
Jhimper Wind Energy Park, Suki Kinari
Hydropower project and Kohala
Hydropower project.
One of CPEC’s primary objectives is to
address pressing infrastructural
requirements with nearly $11 billion
earmarked for infrastructure development
of the road along Khuzdar-Basima
Highway, Karakoram Highway II, Karachi
Lahore Motorway and other to enhance
the connectivity between all provinces
and allow the ease of access of goods.
Pakistan Railways is set to attract up to
$5 billion investment for the purpose of
upgradation and deployment of new
railways infrastructure across Pakistan.
To enhance connectivity and improve
transportation facilities upgradation of
1,872 kilometer track from Karachi to
Peshawar will be carried out. Other
projects for the railway infrastructure
include 1,254 km of railway track from
Kotri to Attock city that will be upgraded.
Once completed, The SEZ project
is expected to add 2 to 2.5 percent
to the annual economic growth of
Pakistan. Also, it is forecast to add
2 million direct and indirect jobs to
Pakistan’s economy between
2015-2030.
In Sindh, there are three SEZ
projects underway. The one at
Dhabeji is in its final stages of
paperwork completion, the other
two, at Keti Bandar and the
Marble City Karachi, are in their
initial stages of paperwork and
planning.
DHABEJI SEZ GROUND PLAN
ABOUT DHABEJI CSEZ
Currently spread over 1530 acres of
land, showcasing the cooperation
between Pakistan-China industries, the
Dhabeji SEZ is a project said to serve
as a benchmark model for the industrial
parks in Pakistan.
It is a most viable SEZ of the region as
its strategic location makes it 0.5km
from National Highway, 22km from Port
Qasim, 20km from Landhi Industrial
Area and 40km from Thatta city. It is
also connected to the largest market of
the country, Karachi, at a distance of
50km. Thus ease of transportation and
abundant labor supply. This has
received a promising response from
Chinese enterprises keen to undertake
joint ventures with its Pakistani
counterparts.
Moreover, it offers attractive
monetary benefits such as upto 10
year tax holiday, provision Gas and
Electricity supply and other
necessary infrastructure at zero
point, duty free imports of capital
goods and flexible land acquisition
policy.
When working under full potential,
Dhabeji SEZ is expected to create
100,000 jobs with an output of 20bn
USD. The feasibility study suggests
that STEEL, PETROCHEMICAL,
AUTOMOTIVE & ALLIED, LIGHT
ENGINEERING, TEXTILE &
GARMENTS, FMCGs, LOGISTICS
AND WAREHOUSING are some of
the Industries incorporated under the
strategic cluster of industries of
Dhabeji.
ABOUT MARBLE CITY KARACHI
The government of Sindh has approved
the country’s first marble city which will
be established at the Northern Bypass
Karachi covering over 300 acres. It is a
milestone for the industry and the
expediting work on the project needs to
be stressed. The master plan is ready
and the feasibility studies are in their
final stages of completion.
The studies suggests the profitable
investments in the areas of:
 Infrastructure development
 Captive power plant
 Quarrying (Mining)
 Training centre
 Warehousing
 Machinery pool
 Waste Water Treatment facility
Once the project is complete, marble
export will reach $500 million
compared to $60 million in previous
year. Every year around 50 per cent
of marble is exported through
undocumented channels to
Afghanistan. Middle East countries
are the biggest buyers of Pakistani
marble whereas marble known as
Black and Gold is also exported to
China in the shape of blocks at
prices 3 times less than that of the
same quality Italian marble.
The most consequential impact of
the export of raw marble to China is
that it’s simply preventing the local
industry from developing value-
adding capacity.
ABOUT KETI BANDAR SEZ
Keti Bandar's SEZ stretches over 3,000
Moreover, the new jetty will enhance It is claimed that the power park
acres and is 153km from Karachi. The
capability to export coal with would have 10,000 megawatt
industrial potential will be realized after
potential for development as a full power production capacity and a
construction of a port, which is proposed
port. since the Thar coalfield has transmission line would connect
to be part of the medium-term plan.
been declared as a Special Keti Bandar to the Jamshoro and
Economic Zone, and projects Matiari grids.
Keti Bandar project is ideally located to
supporting it receive multiple
serve as a power park for the Thar coal
economic benefits. A 235-kilometer-long railway line
project due to its proximity to the coal
from Islamkot to Keti Bandar
field as well as Karachi. Furthermore, it
With the construction of new jetty it would be laid to transport coal, a
is connected by metallic road, has Easy
would be possible to exploit the full 190-km-long road would also be
road connectivity with Karachi-Lahore
potential of Thar's coal reserves, constructed to connect Keti
motorway, fewer environmental effects
minimize cost of electricity Bandar with Nooriabad.
due to sparse population, 5million
production at Thar coal and enhance
population in area to benefit availability
the country's competitiveness by
of skilled and semi-skilled work force,
providing affordable electricity.
availability of cooling water and fuel
(coal), vast area available for power
park and other uses.
Success Stories
Sun Tang Technologies Limited, a
Chinese enterprise being setup within
Khairpur Special Economic Zone for
Steel Wires and Structures with a
total investment size of $3.3 billion.
Scilife Pharma Pvt Ltd has
established its plant within Korangi
Creek Industrial Park (KCIP), with the
project being worth Rs304m.
Pinnacle Biotech is coming into the
pharmaceutical industry with a total
investment of Rs225m.
Young’s Foods, which started its
operations in 1988 as a small food
processing establishment in Karachi,
is setting up an expansion plant for
food products within KCIP with total
project investment of Rs300m.
Universal Packages is building a plant
in KCIP, investing Rs600m in packaging
industry. Mehran Commercial
Enterprises plans to introduce new
technology for supply of auto parts to
assemblers such as KIA, Hyundai,
Renault. The plant is being set up in
KICP with an investment of Rs200m.
Barkat Frisian is a joint venture
between Buksh Group of Pakistan and
Frisian Egg of Netherlands. Frisian Egg
has production facilities in China, Egypt,
and Netherlands. The project will
produce value added egg products by
breaking second quality shells eggs and
converting them into premium grade
egg products.
This liquid egg will be sold to
industrial egg consumers in the first
phase and then to retail / household
segment in future with an
investment worth Rs190m.
Tecno Auto Glass is a joint venture
between a Japanese car assembler
and an independent auto parts
manufacturer in Pakistan. Tecno
Pack and Pak Suzuki Motor
Company will be shareholders in the
company according to a 60-40
ownership structure. The company
will manufacture automobile
windscreen, rear glass, and side
glass for Suzuki automobiles being
produced in the country. The
company is investing Rs2.5bn.
About Future SEZ Prospects
Province/ Marine Fish Production Inland Fish Production Number of fisherman Number of boats
Marine fishing is usually carried out District metric ton 2015 metric ton 2015 total 2015 Total 2015
in the sea, either off the pier or the
beach, from a boat or rocks, or Sindh 214000 124285 46312 7543
commercially from a trawler, etc. Thatta 17326 13896 2101
Badin 7150 3400 327

Inland fishing (coarse fishing) is

carried out on inland waters: lake,
mere, canal, river or pond, etc., using
a rod and line with a baited hook, or
an artificial fly.
Major Water Body/Reservoir:
The Keenjhar Lake, District Thatta
Area spread over 9390 acres
More than 48 species are found in the Keenjhar Lake, some of the important
species are:
 Pullo (Tenualosa ilisha) Popri (Puntius Chola)
 Dahi (Labeo calbasu) Jerki ( Wallago attu)
 Thalia (Gilbelion Catla) Kago (Rita Rita)
 Sole (Channa Marulia) Kandar (Chanda nama)
 Goj (Mastacambelus armatus) Rohu (Labeo Rohita)
 Gandhan (Chitala Chitala) Daya (Oreochromis
Mossambicus)
 Morakhi (Cirrhinus Mrigala) Luhr (Heteropneustes fossilis)
Ganer (Cirrhinus reba)
Infrastructure:
Thatta is connected to Karachi and
Hyderabad through the national
highway. All the major towns of the
district are connected by metaled
roads of 1585 km length. It is also
connected to Karachi and Hyderabad
by the main railway line.
Thatta (City) – Karachi 102 km via N-5
Thatta (City)-Hyderabad 101 km via
N-5
There are total 36 main industrial units
in Thatta, 5 sugar mills, 10 textile mills,
3 flourmills and 3 pvc industries.
Wind and Solar Energy can be
exploited?
There are cold storages in Jati and
Shah Bunder.
Thatta:
The fisheries sector plays an important
role in Sindh’s economy as around 80%
of the coastal population (excluding
Karachi) is engaged in fishery related
activities and it is the main source of
income for most of the households. It
contributes 1% to the GDP of the
country. The total fish (marine and
inland) production 2015-16 is about
788,000 tons (pbs) out of which only
17% is exported. Whereas shrimp
export accounts for almost 60% of the
total fisheries export of the country.
Sindh contributes around 43% towards
the total fish production of the country.
The world demand for seafood
products is increasing continuously and
Pakistan's domestic consumption being
1.8 kg per capita is lowest in the region.
Total export earnings in 2015-16 were
around $325 million and it has a
potential to be increased to $1 billion.
District Thatta is one of the three
districts of Sindh, through which
the river Indus passes, making it
fit for inland fishing. Located in
the southern part of the province
the district comprises of Thatta
City and important fishing towns
like Keti Bundar, Mirpur Sakro
and Gharo. Among the 22
districts Thatta is the highest
contributor (14%) towards the
total inland fish production of the
province and it has the potential
to contribute even more.
Gharo is a small town situated in
Thatta and it is located
approximately 60 kilometers East
of Karachi. This area is close to
Pakistan Steel Mills.
To make use of the rich wind resource of
the town, a Chinese company invested in
the 50 MW Hydro China Dawood Wind
Power Plant under CPEC. Gharo is
connected to Karachi (68km via N – 5),
Hyderabad (145km via N – 5), Dhabeji
(22.8km via N – 5) and Keti Bunder (85km
via N – 10). By linking producers to
markets, workers to jobs, roads are vital to
any development agenda. All these factors
make Gharo (Thatta) an ideal location to
invest in.
Opportunities:
 Ventures in commercial scale
mariculture: Hatcheries with enhanced
production capacity and quality. Modern
and improved fish/shrimp farming.
 Supply of inputs: equipment and feed
Jetties
 Better Boats
 Cold storage
 Fish processing, value addition, ready
to cook products.
Agro-Based industrial park in
Shikarpur:
Shikarpur’s geographical location is of
great importance, it is situated on the
west of the right bank of River Indus
which provides ideal conditions for
agricultural activities. Two national
highways, N 55 and N 65, intersect the
city making it the connection point of
the four provinces. Moreover, it is just
45km away from Ratodero which
connects it to the CPEC Western
Route. Agro Based industries in this
region would help Pakistan to enter the
Chinese market with finished
agricultural products.
Shikarpur district producing major food
crops like rice and wheat. Rice is a
major cash crop staple food crop of
Pakistan, with an ever-increasing
domestic and international demand
Sindh’s total rice production
(2016-17) was 2661600* tons. It
is also the 4th largest rice
exporter of the world thus huge
potential for value addition in the
rice crop in post-harvest process
through development of storage
facilities and parboiled rice
processing plants. Parboiled rice
earns higher price in the market
due to its nutritional superiority
and ease of cooking over the
normal milled rice.
Shikarpur is also famous for its
pickle and is a huge exporter of
Pickle. There are around 12*
pickle manufacturing factories in
Shikarpur city, and some small
home based pickle manufacturing
units set up by women.
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