CPEC will turn Pakistan into a manufacturing hub, says PM’s aide

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Khalid Mansoor has said the focus of investment under the multi-billion-dollar project is now going to be on environment-friendly initiatives.

Speaking at the CPEC Industrial Cooperation B2B Investment Conference on Monday, Mr Mansoor said upcoming projects under CPEC will mainly be in textile, information technology, agriculture and science and technology sectors.

“The perception is that CPEC is only for China. It’s not. We have investors from the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada and the Netherlands. Close to 18 or 19 (of them) have already invested in Allama Iqbal (Industrial City),” he said while referring to one of the nine special economic zones or SEZs that are being developed under CPEC.

Allama Iqbal Industrial City is one of the five CPEC-related SEZs that the government is currently developing at a fast pace. Others include Dhabeji SEZ in Sindh, Rashakai SEZ in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Bostan SEZ in Balochistan. The fifth fast-tracked SEZ is in Gwadar whose area has recently been increased from 60 acres to over 2,200 acres, Mr Mansoor said.