Special economic zones to be established under CPEC: PM

ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said boosting the exports of the country is the top priority of the Government.

He was speaking to a group of leading industrial exporters of the country who played him in Karachi on Thursday.

The Prime Minister said economic development and exports are interlinked. He said we can't afford to ignore our exports. Nawaz Sharif said that the government will give short, medium and long term relief to the exporters so that no section is omitted to achieve our development objectives.

The Prime Minister stated that exports are the hereafter of our economic system. He articulated our vision is to spread dividends of economic turnaround among all the stakeholders in an equitable way.

He said increased economic activities and ease of doing business will result in reduction in unemployment and the alleviation of poverty from the land.

Nawaz Sharif said the improved infrastructure of railways will provide backup to the exporters in terms of reduction in freight charges. He said the landmark CPEC will further complement the benefits of improved railway infrastructure.

The Prime Minister said Special Economic Zones are being made under the CPEC to provide an ideal platform for helping the country's exporters.

The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Commerce to establish arrangements for duty free import of additional five million bales of cotton in the wake of low cotton exports of the nation. The Prime Minister also pointed that a proposition in this regard be immediately be given before the Cabinet for approval.

The exporters lauded the economic turnaround achieved under the leadership of the Prime Minister and said historic foreign exchange reserves coupled with the improved security situation in the state has reinforced confidence of the exporters.

The exporters said the economic turnaround achieved due to the prudent and investor friendly policies of the present regime is indeed praiseworthy.

The exporters appraised the Prime Minister that they are rendering great efforts for rise in country's exports in the wake of robust economic growth and support of the government.

The exporters appreciated the decision of importing LNG by the government.

Governor Sindh Ishrat-ul-Ebad and CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah were also present during the meeting.