Pakistan
Advantageously located between South Asia, Central Asia, China, and the Middle East, Pakistan has tremendous possibilities as a powerhouse of regional trade. GDP growth has accelerated to around 4.5% in recent years due to low oil prices. The country also embarked on an economic reform program in 2013 in coordination with the International Monetary Fund.
Pakistan is considered to have vast untapped potential, based on its large and growing working-age population, vast resources, and strategic location. Its main industries currently include textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals, and construction materials. The government seeks to attract foreign investment, including through export processing zone, special economic zone, and (at the provincial level) industrial estate programs.
Our Experience in Pakistan
In 2015 the Punjab Board of Trade and Investment and the Pakistani Ministry of Commerce reached out to Locus Economica for assistance on revisions to its special economic zones (SEZ) program. Working in coordination with the World Bank Jobs and Competitiveness Program, we led workshops with Pakistani government officials, consulted with stakeholders on the context and priorities for the zones program, and thoroughly reviewed and gave recommendations on Pakistan's current SEZ policy, laws, institutions, and plans for specific sites.