KARACHI: Pakistan’s southern Sindh province Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Federal Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer met on Tuesday to discuss the revival of the Pakistan Steel Mills, a state-owned enterprise, and the creation of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) on the mill’s remaining land.
The meeting was attended by Provincial Minister for Industries Jam Ikram Dharejo, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, PSCM Agha Wasif, Secretary Industries Yasin Shar, and Federal Secretary for Industries Saif Anjum with his team, according to a CM House statement.
Chief Minister Murad Shah stated that the Special Economic Zone project had been discussed in the cabinet on May 30, 2024. He explained that his cabinet had proposed the federal government establish the SEZ on the extra land of the Pakistan Steel Mills.
Shah emphasized that the 700 acres designated for the Steel Mills plant should be preserved for its revival or for establishing a new steel mill. Any additional land requirements should be resolved jointly.
Federal Minister Rana Tanveer offered that the federal government was prepared to support the provincial government in reviving the old steel mill or setting up a new one on the 700 acres.
CM Murad Shah said that the remaining 4,840 acres could be used to develop the SEZ for both federal and provincial use. Rana Tanveer agreed that the federal government would begin developing the SEZ, which would be allocated to Chinese investors.
Murad Ali Shah said that the SEZ’s proximity to the sea and its existing infrastructure, including water and gas facilities, would make it one of the top zones in the country.
Both governments agreed to expedite the necessary paperwork to establish the SEZ promptly. The new SEZ is expected to create employment opportunities and boost the national economy.
Shah reiterated his commitment to using the Steel Mills as a national asset for economic development and job creation, supported by the federal government.
He also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen the agro-economy, improve industrial sectors, and provide technical education to the youth, aiming to build a skilled workforce for the expanding industrial sector.
