Chitral Times Report
PESHAWAR: Groundbreaking of Jalozai Economic Zone was held on the Zone site in Jalozai, Nowshera. Hon’ble Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mr. Mahmood Khan graced the event as the Chief Guest. The event hosted by KPEZDMC was attended by, Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Industries & Commerce Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mr. Abdul Karim Khan, MNA Dr. Imran Khattak, Advisor to CM on Higher Education Mr. Khaleeq ur Rahman, Secretary Industries Commerce & Technical Education Department, Board of Directors of KPEZDMC and industrialists.
Being in the proximity of Peshawar, adjacency to UET Jalozai Campus, and new housing schemes in the locality; Jalozai offers promising potentials to the enterprising locals who either intend to expand their industrial presence or want to come up with new start-ups.
As a game-changer for the region, the 257 acres Zone will generate 50,000 direct and indirect jobs while PKR 6 billion investment is expected in the Zone upon colonization; transforming the economic outlook of Jalozai. The new economic zone will accommodate Pakistan Hunting and Sporting Arms cluster , that will revive the livelihood of the skilled labour associated with it and also provide projection to the regularization of the potential market of hunting and sporting arms production in the region. Due to the availability of labour in Jalozai, industries like Pharmaceutical, Food Processing, Construction, Marble and Granite, Food Packaging and Furniture will benefit from the investment in the zone. The well placed Economic Zone connects to Peshawar, Islamabad through M-1 Motorway, Torkham and Azakhel Dry Port, adding to its strategic strengths. Industrial products from Jalozai EZ could find themselves in high demand areas like Afghanistan, Central Asia, China and Urban Centers in the region.
Regarding provision of all necessary utilities to the Zone, KPEZDMC is already negotiating with the PHA authority for the supply of 5 to 10 MW power from the 132 KV grid through 11 KV feeder; that is planned for the PHA (Housing Society) near Jalozai Economic Zone. Additionally, 5 mmcfd gas is planned to be provided through an SMS that is approximately one kilometre away from the Zone. Despite high land cost in the vicinity, KPEZMDC has kept the price of plots subsidized to promote industrialisation.
During the ceremony, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said that “this historic day marks the beginning of rapid industrialization in KP. Jalozai, due to its strategic location, will prove a game-changer for the region. The Government plans on improving industrial output through the establishment of new economic zones, in pursuit of economic prosperity for the people of the province and the launch of Jalozai EZ is the right step forward”. Protecting the environment from the adversity of pollution and sustaining industrial ecology, a tree plantation campaign under the Clean and Green Pakistan programme in Jalozai EZ was inaugurated by CM KP by planting a sapling on the premises of the Zone office.
Mr. Javed Iqbal Khattak, CEO KPEZDMC, also briefed the audience that the company has expedited efforts towards industrialization, particularly to build a sustainable agro-base industrial eco system in southern KP, and to capitalize on the CPEC route and interchange, which promises hundreds of thousands of jobs, and huge international investments.
The management of KPEZDMC anticipates that this project will provide impetus to the future investments in the upcoming projects that are in the pipeline.
