Page 27 - CMA Journal (Sep-Oct 2025)
P. 27

Focus Section



             •  Regional Cooperation: SEZs
                should    facilitate  bilateral,
                trilateral, or multilateral trade
                agreements connecting Pakistan
                with other Asian nations to
                promote industrialization and
                economic opportunities.
             •  Inclusion of SMEs: Pakistan
                must ensure that local businesses
                benefit from supply chains by
                including SMEs if it hopes to
                improve      the     business
                environment through SEZs.
             These proposed reforms will help
             SEZs evolve, leading to increased
             business activity and sustainable growth.        https://www.economy.pk/second-phase-of-cpec-shifts-focus-to-indus
                                                              trialisation-special-economic-zones
             Conclusion
                                                              Pakistan Today. (2025, August 3). CPEC as a great game-changer for
             Through the integration of regional and global value   Pakistan’s industrial landscape.https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/
                                                              2025/08/03/cpec-great-game-changer
             chains, Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under the
             China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are essential for   The Nation. (2025, April 17). Dhabeji SEZ to attract $3bn investment
             transforming local production into export-oriented   and create 100,000 jobs: Sindh CM.
             enterprises.  This approach offers the opportunity to   https://www.nation.com.pk/17-Apr-2025/dhabeji-sez-to-attract-doll
             maximize employment, expand infrastructure, include   ar-3bn-investment-create-100-000-jobs-sindh-cm
             SMEs, and promote various trade activities. SEZs can help   Dawn News. (2025, March 11). Slow progress but high hopes for
             address challenges related to foreign debt, governance,   industrial zones under CPEC Phase
             security, and sustainability.                    II.https://www.dawn.com/news/1889012

             Various SEZ projects, including Gwadar Free Zone, Allama   Gwadar Development Authority. (2025). Gwadar Smart Port City
             Iqbal Industrial City, and Rashakai, demonstrate the   Master Plan – Progress Summary 2025.https://www.gda.gov.pk
             opportunities  available  across  provinces  when  National Industrial Parks (NIP) Development & Management
             empowering guidelines are followed.  The ultimate   Company. (2025). Industrial Growth and Employment Forecast under
             outcomes of SEZs will be sustainable growth, improved   CPEC SEZs.
             tax management, and stronger governance. Pakistan   https://nipapeshawar.gov.pk
             plays a vital role in linking South Asia, Central Asia, and
                                                              TVET Sector Support Programme Pakistan. (2024). Report on Job
             the Middle East.                                 Market Forecast and Skilled Labour Profiling for
                                                              SEZs.https://tvetreform.org.pk/wp-content/uploads/downloads/Repo
             Ultimately, the success of SEZs in Pakistan depends on
                                                              rts%20and%20Publications/20211222ReportonJobMarketForecast%
             balancing economic opportunities with sustainability
                                                              26SkilledLabourProfiling.pdf
             and geopolitical realities. When properly implemented,
             CPEC-SEZs can transform industrial zones into engines of   United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the
                                                              Pacific (UNESCAP). (2024). CPEC and Regional Economic Integration:
             regional cooperation, global competitiveness, and
                                                              Policy Perspectives.
             long-term growth.
                                                              https://www.unescap.org
             References
                                                              World Bank. (2024). Leveraging Industrial Zones for Inclusive Growth
             Asian Development Bank. (2024). Special Economic Zones and   in Emerging Economies. Washington, D.C.
             Regional Connectivity in South Asia. ADB Working Paper Series,   https://www.worldbank.org
             Manila. https://www.adb.org/publications
                                                               About the Author: Imtiaz Bashir, a Fellow Member of ICMA
             Board of Investment (BOI), Pakistan. (2025). CPEC SEZs Development
             Update 2025. Government of Pakistan. https://www.invest.gov.pk  and Senior Instructor at Government College of Commerce,
                                                               Multan, has over 20 years of experience in management
             China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority. (2025). CPEC   accounting, finance, and taxation. He teaches at ICMA Multan
             Progress and Future Outlook – 2025 Report. https://cpec.gov.pk  Campus, is pursuing a PhD, and has published several papers
                                                               on management, finance, and governance in national
             Economy.pk. (2025, July 8). Second phase of CPEC shifts focus to
             industrialisation and SEZs.                       journals and conferences.


                                                             ICMA’s Chartered Management Accountant, Sep-Oct 2025  25
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