KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed Board of Revenue (BoR) to give 1500 more acres of land to the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone (SEZ), a CPEC priority project, which presently stretches over 1,530 acres. He also ordered transfer the title of the land to the SEZ so that development of its infrastructure could be started.
He said that Dhabeji SEZ would open new vistas of development and prosperity in the province of Sindh and create a lot of employment opportunities, he said while presiding over a meeting on Dhabeji Special Economic Zone matters here on Tuesday at CM House.
The meeting was told that critical issues were land transfer, construction of connecting roads, provision of electricity, provision of water and gas, and cancellation of mining leases issued there.
As many as 1530 acres of land has already been reserved for the economic zone. However, the CM directed to provide another 1500 acres along the reserved land so that Dhabeji Special Economic Zone could be established over an area of 3000 acres.
The meeting was told that international tenders for development of Dhabeji SEZ has have already been invited and would be opened on April 20, 2020.
Direct connectivity of this zone with Port Qasim is required, which is available from Dhabeji Creek side. However, it would need a road about 8 to 10 kilometers long. The chief minister approved the proposal and directed for preparation of PC-I.
The meeting was told that Dhabeji SEZ needed 10 MGD water. The chief minister directed MD KWSB to prepare a scheme for establishing a pumping station and provide water at the mouth of the SEZ.
The meeting was told that Right of Way (ROW) may be given to the works & services department for construction of approaching roads to the SEZ. Once the connecting roads are developed other works of electricity and laying waters lines would be made possible.
The chief minister directed BoR to hand over ROW to the works & services department so that it could start construction of approaching roads.
The federal government has already approved a PC-1 of Rs3.95 billion for dedicated 220kv Grid through PSDP in 2019-20 for Dhabeji SEZ. The Power Division through NTDC would sponsor the scheme through outsourcing to the KE. The chief minister directed BoR to allocate and make demarcation of five acres of land for establishment of grid station on priority.
The meeting was told that a ROW for 220kv transmission line is required for provision of electricity to the Dhabeji SEZ. The chief minister directed BoR/DC Thatta to expedite demarcation of the RoW for transmission line.
It was told that the SSGCL has submitted a PC-1 of Rs428 million for provision of 13.5 mmcfd gas through PSDP to the Ministry of Petroleum Division. The CM directed the chief secretary to talk to the Ministry of Petroleum to expedite the request.
There are 16 leases for lifting of sand and gravel in area of Dhabeji SEZ. However, 14 leases have already been cancelled while two others were in the process of cancellation.
The chief minister said that within a month he would again review the progress on this matter.
