Pakistan has received positive response from the US on proposed changes in the Reconstruction of Opportunity Zones (ROZs) legislation, which envisages inclusion of garment industry and provision of setting up of ROZs in Balochistan. It was revealed to the Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet in its meeting held on September 15 that Pakistan had proposed changes in ROZs legislation and received positive responsive from the US.
During the ECC meeting, an organisation at Federal level was proposed to be established to steer the programme of ROZs smoothly toward its completion. Institutional and infrastructure requirements were listed and it was stipulated that work on at least one ROZ in every province/area would start by March 2010.
During the presentation on Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs), the ECC was informed that a joint study group had been established in the US to discuss and finalise details for setting up ROZs.
Sources said that the ECC was informed that institutional arrangements were being made for implementing the ROZs scheme in Pakistan. According to the sources, the government plans to establish four regional ROZs in Fata, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), NWFP and Balochistan.
The ROZs initiative would provide duty-free export of a number of products, including textile and garments from designated areas of Pakistan to the US. It would provide Pakistan with an opportunity to enhance its exports to the US and stimulate economic growth in the under-developed areas of NWFP, Balochistan, AJK and the Fata.
The sources in Planning Commission said that the a Programme Management Unit (PMU) would be set up with an initial investment of Rs 80.605 million for a two-year period to develop a conceptual and institutional framework and steer the ROZs authority process forward.
In Pakistan, the ROZs will be established in NWFP, Fata, earthquake affected areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and parts of Balochistan for goods, including textile and garments, produced in the Zones, which would qualify for duty-free import to the US.
According to the sources, the PMU would be responsible for organising and managing consultation with the stakeholders, ie the Fata, NWFP, AJK and Balochistan; developing incentive package for investors as well as a system or enforcement procedure to guard unlawful trans-shipment of articles from the ROZs. The PMU would be a co-ordinating body with donor agencies in identifying projects for the ROZs, said the sources. The Planning Commission in its technical appraisal has held that the proposed PMU will outsource various short-term studies.
News Source: PRGMEA
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