ISLAMABAD - Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce, Abdul Razak Dawood, on Wednesday has urged the investors to invest in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the priority areas which include Textile, Food Processing, IT and IT equipment, Logistics and Automobiles in order to get high returns on their investment
A delegation of domestic investors of Bin Qasim Industrial Park and Korangi Creek Industrial Park called on Mr. Abdul Razak Dawood. They discussed various issues pertaining to taxation anomalies regarding Special Economic Zones (SEZs). The meeting was also attended by Chairman FBR Syed Shabbar Zaidi, and BOI Chairman Mr. Zubair Gilani.
The Adviser to PM highlighted the tax incentives provided to SEZs. These incentives include onetime exemption from customs duties and taxes on import of plant and machinery into SEZs for installation in these zones. Moreover, he added that government has also given tax holidays for 10 years to all enterprises which will commence commercial production by 30th June 2020 in SEZs. The Adviser emphasised that, beside tax incentives, incumbent government has taken strategic decision to facilitate investors by providing state of the art infrastructure in SEZs so that they can contribute in the national economy by kick starting commercial production at earliest.
During the meeting investors raised issues relating to timely issuance of tax exemption certificates from FBR which are causing inconvenience and delays in taking investment decisions by the new investors. In order to address this issue Chairman FBR apprised the participants that he will nominate a dedicated focal officer in FBR who will coordinate with the investors to resolve any issue being faced in their investment ventures.
The Adviser also assured facilitation to the investors from BOI, as the lead coordination agency of Government of Pakistan. He stated that all the issues pertaining to taxation of various projects would be resolved and BOI would act as a single bridge between the investor and the Government Departments including FBR.
