Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, reviewing the progress of the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone (DSEZ), directed the Investment Department to accelerate development and ensure plot allocation to investors by the end of the year.
According to Chief Minister’s Secretariat, the zone, a flagship project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is aimed at attracting large-scale investment and generating employment opportunities in Sindh, the CM said.
In a strategic push to strengthen Sindh’s industrial landscape, CM Syed Murad Ali Shah presided over a progress review meeting on the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone (DSEZ) at the CM House.
The meeting was attended by Planning and Development Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Special Assistant Qasim Naveed Qamar, Chairman P and D Board Najam Shah, Finance Secretary Fayaz Jatoi, Investment Secretary Raja Kamran Shehzad, Transport Secretary Asad Zamin, CEO of Sindh Economic Zones Management Company (SEZMC) Azeem Uqaili, and other senior officials.
During the briefing, it was informed that work on the DSEZ began in April 2024, and critical infrastructure, including electricity, gas, and water supply lines, has already been laid across the zone. The CM emphasised the need to complete the pending work at a faster pace to operationalise the zone.
‘Dhabeji SEZ must be made functional without delay so that employment opportunities can be created and investment can start flowing,’ Murad Shah said. He directed that the allocation of industrial plots to investors must begin by the end of this year, ensuring the zone is ready for industrial activity by early 2026.
A focus was the early construction of the access road connecting Port Qasim to the rear side of the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone, which CM Shah termed ‘critical for logistics and investor access.’ He instructed the relevant departments to prioritise this road project and complete it at the earliest.
The Chief Minister reiterated that DSEZ holds immense strategic importance not only for Karachi but for the entire province, especially under CPEC Phase-II, where Pakistan is shifting focus from infrastructure to industrial cooperation.
Murad Shah urged the Sindh Economic Zones Management Company (SEZMC) and associated departments to work in coordination to streamline utilities, land allocation, investor facilitation, and legal frameworks to attract both local and international investors.
The Dhabeji SEZ spans over 1,500 acres and is strategically located just 45 km from Karachi Port, adjacent to Port Qasim, and close to key industrial and logistics corridors. The zone is designed to host sectors such as engineering, pharmaceuticals, food processing, logistics, auto parts, chemicals, and textiles.
With enhanced government focus, the chief minister said the zone will serve as a model for industrial growth, employment creation, and public-private partnerships in Sindh. He also assured full support for resolving any bottlenecks hindering the timely completion of the zone’s development.
The chief minister concluded the meeting by directing all departments to submit a weekly progress report and to coordinate closely with federal authorities wherever required for utilities or infrastructure approvals.