KARACHI: Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Investment Department and Public Private Partnership Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar said on Tuesday the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project was a top priority project under the industrial cooperation phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

At a press conference held at the office of Sindh Economic Zones Management Company (SEZMC), he said the provincial government had decided to execute the project through international competitive bidding process under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode.

He said the Dhabeji project was expected to generate $1 billion in investment and 100,000 direct and indirect jobs. `Now, with the developer being finalised by the PPP Policy Board in its 34th meeting, the construction is expected to start early next year,` he said.

The special assistant said the bidding process of this vital project of national interest had been successfully completed strictly in accordance with RFP/SPPRA Rules in a fair and transparent manner.

`The developer will be responsible to provide all the utilities, infrastructure and carry out operations and maintenance in this SEZ to all enterprises at their doorstep,` he added.

Mr Qamar said the provincial government had ensured the provision of utilities and direct access connecting both Port Qasim and the National Highway through a dedicated highway which would turn Dhabeji into an economic and commercial hub of industrialisation near Karachi.

He said that provincial and federal governments were committed to spending over Rs12bn on creating an enabling environment with regard to externalinfrastructure and facilities.