Business Desk 
Nov 24, 2024
In a bid to ensure swift resolution of issues hanging in the balance, the federal government of Pakistan on Saturday ordered the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) to make the Rashakai Special Economic Zone (SEZ) grid in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) functional within three days.
To make relevant operations smoother, it also asked the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan to appoint a professional to address investor concerns.
Being a flagship project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) umbrella, the Rashakai SEZ is the second SEZ in the province approved under the SEZ Act of 2012.
The ordinance requires the federal and provincial governments to ensure utilities to SEZs’ designated zero points. These amenities include such as electricity and gas.
Demanding instant activation of the Rashakai grid connection and restoration of failovers faced by industrial units, privatisation minister Abdul Aleem Khan asked the authorities to prioritise a thorough look into the longstanding issues in special zones, particularly those in KP.
“Ensuring electricity supply to investors is a top priority, and delays must be addressed without further excuses,” said the minister, adding that Century Steel Group's issues with the SEZ should be resolved as soon as possible.
The first phase of Rashakai SEZ, spanning 247 acres, was completed in mid-2023. Part of the initial phase was the provision of plots to 18 industrial units, seven of which are about to become operational.
