The Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) will set up seven more export processing zones (EPZs) in the country as well as in Azad Kashmir in near future said General Manager EPZA Muhammad Ashraf Wahla.
Talking to Business Recorder here on Tuesday afternoon at Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) he revealed that the proposed EPZs would be established at potential sites like Larkana, Multan, Sukkur, Faisalabad, Gwadar, Gilgit and Mirpur Azad Kashmir for boosting export-oriented industries of these areas.
The EPZA has already announced the highly attractive incentives and concessions for the business community for setting up their industrial units in the EPZs of the country for further accelerating the pace of export activities aimed to enhance the export volume of the country.
The incentives like 100 percent ownership rights, 100 percent repatriation of capital and profit, no minimum or maximum limit for investment, duty free import of machinery, equipment and material, no sales tax on input goods including electricity and gas bills, foreign exchange control regulation of Pakistan not applicable, freedom from national import restrictions, EPZ manufacturer would be treated at par with bonded manufacturers in tariff areas for any future incentives to be announced for the exporters, relief from double taxation subject to bilateral agreement, inter-unit transfer of finished goods among exporting units allowed, he disclosed.
Ashraf Wahla further told that facilities like one window service and simplified procedure, availability of infrastructural facilities like water, electricity, gas and telecommunication and peaceful, secure and environmentally protected pollution free work area has been ensured in export processing zones of the country.
About the Sialkot Export Processing Zone (SEPZ) he disclosed that six units were successfully functioning in SEPZ. He stressed upon the business community of Sialkot that they should focus their attention on setting up industrial units in Sialkot Export Processing Zone (SEPZ). The setting up of industrial units in SEPZ would not only help in doubling the export volume but also generate the employment opportunities in the area, he said.
The location of SEPZ is very important because some adjoining small industrial areas like Daska, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Gujrat and Gujranwala would be benefited and promote their units besides, Sialkot Dry Port and Sialkot International Airport are also located on the same track, he added.