Pakistan Special Economic Zones (SEZs): Feasibility Study & Strategic Framework – Economic Corridor Development

A comprehensive study for Asian Development bank was conducted to develop a robust and practical special economic zones (SEZs) framework for Pakistan based on global best practice and empirical evidence as well as local knowledge to ensure SEZs are successful in Pakistan knowing the fact that there are numerous examples for their failure across the globe including China. The framework is important since the government has planned 9 SEZs under the China Pakistan economic corridor given their significant potential benefits. The framework also included a range of critical guiding principles and enablers that are prerequisites for the success of SEZ. The guiding principles included location, infrastructure, human resources and knowledge transfer, absolute fiscal incentives, performance-based incentives and horizontal and vertical linkages while the key enablers were country level governance and zone governance indicators.