Syed Marwan Shah

The upcoming Katlang Economic Zone located in Mardan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province will help boost economic activity, create job opportunities and reduce poverty, reports WealthPK.

Talking to WealthPK, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zones Development and Management Company (KPEZDMC) official Muhammad Qureshi said the process for the possession of 3,770 Kanal land in Sarobi for the development of Katlang Economic Zone is still underway.

Katlang will be a great opportunity for investors for grading, and packaging fresh fruits as well as other agro-based products. The official said the area will offer a unique opportunity for industrialization in the district.

It is one of the most economically developed areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Agriculture, horticulture, and manufacturing (including large businesses like the sugar industry and other industrial concerns like cigarettes, textiles, drinks, ceramics, edible oil/ghee, soaps/shampoo, etc.) are the industries on which the district is based, Qureshi explained.

The area has the potential to develop into a multifaceted hub of mining, heavy manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism. Katlang is especially famous for Topaz and Quartz, Qureshi said.

Pink topaz, which is very rare and sought-after, is found in abundance in a mine close to the settlement of Katlang tehsil. The majority of crystals here are in loose form but of good grade. This specimen is a remarkable matrix piece with a solitary topaz crystal and a colourless quartz crystal that is around the same size, the KPEZDMC official added.

According to WealthPK research, by developing modern economic zones, the KPEZDMC plans to facilitate industrial growth for creation of jobs, enhancement of skills, and increased productivity which will ultimately help reduce poverty and stabilize the economy of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The KPEZDMC intends to build 17 economic zones around the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in order to promote industrialization. In addition to the development of new economic zones and management of the existing industrial estates, the KPEZDMC also provides marketing, management, financial and technical assistance to industrialists throughout the province.

According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa investment Pitch Book 2021 the province is offering investment opportunities for major mineral resources, which include world renowned Swat Emerald, Pink Topaz of Katlang, Peridot Ruby, and Sapphire in Kaghan-Naran Valley. Other resources include cement grade limestone, coal, phosphate, silica sand, rock salt and gypsum, soapstone magnesite and barite, chromite and other industrial minerals.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk