The NWFP government has constituted the committee to start preparation for launching the US-backed Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) in NWFP and Fata. The project is likely to start within next couple of months. The decision on it has been taken in a meeting co-chaired by NWFP Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani and Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hothi at Governor's House.
The NWFP industries minister would be the chairman of the committee while the Programme Management Office would also establish for provision of one-window facility for investors.
The committee will comprise representative of the NWFP government, Fata, federal government, chambers of commerce and industry as well as parliamentarians will be formally notified within a week to submit its recommendations within 15 days for action by the government.
The committee has been tasked to identify the existing Industrial Estates to be designated as ROZs; prepare a policy for industrialisation in the ROZs and make recommendations about fixation of employment and other fixed quotas for Fata and Pata. It will also suggest suitable sites within Fata, including FRs for establishment of the Reconstruction Opportunity Zones.
The participants were briefed through a presentation on the plan, prepared by the Fata Development Authority about the Reconstruction Opportunity Zones, and was informed that the products manufactured and processed in the ROZs would have duty-free access to US markets. Besides, it will bring investment and economic development to the area with thousands of jobs and skill development for the local population.
Both the NWFP governor and the chief minister described the ROZs plan as of immense significance for NWFP and Fata, saying that locations of the ROZs should be such that could benefit the people of both the province and Fata.
Federal ministers, Najmuddin Khan and Hamidullah Jan Afridi, Senior Minister NWFP Rahim Dad Khan, provincial ministers, Muhammad Humayun Khan, Syed Ahmad Hussain Shah, NWFP Chief Secretary Sahibzada Riaz Noor, Additional Chief Secretary Javed Iqbal, Additional Fata Chief Secretary Habibullah Khan, parliamentarians, representatives of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and the Tribal Chamber of Commerce and other officials concerned attended the meeting.