September 30, 2021: Pakistan has been dedicatedly working towards achieving Sustainable Development Growth (SDGs) over the years.
As a part of the realization of Pakistan’s SDG vision, Secretary Board of Investment (BOI), Ms. Fareena Mazhar presented three game-changing projects to UNDP that will pave the way for Pakistan to become a success story in terms of progress on SDGs, on Wednesday, September 29, 2021.
SDG Investment Fair is held twice a year under the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). The first Investment Fair was held earlier in April 2021 and the Second Investment Fair was held today at the Board of Investment. Projects from NHA, NUST, and the Ministry of Science and Technology were presented by the Secretary, BOI Ms. Fareena Mazhar.
She had presented 09 projects from all sectors in the April 2021 Investment Fair while this time the shovel-ready 3 projects were offered to the international investors as per UN International standards. The three projects include the Sialkot-Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway project (phase I and II) and the manufacturing of medical equipment.
The first two projects specifically focus on SDGs 8,9 and 11: decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation, and infrastructure, and sustainable cities and communities. The secretary shared that the outcomes of this project will be integrating industrial cities like Sialkot, Gujrat, and Wazirabad with high-speed connectivity. It will also reduce migration pressure to large cities which will, in turn, create thousands of jobs allied with forty industries associated with the construction of roads as Sialkot is the center of manufacturing and exporting products.
She further added that an important toll road project is designed with a total length of 69 km connecting Pakistan’s largest SME industrial cities and this strategic project will play a major role in Pakistan’s post-COVID economic recovery Elaborating on the Sialkot-Kharian project, she said that it would further be extended up to Rawalpindi in next phase. The project will reduce the cost of doing business and increase commercial transport connectivity. Phase-II of the project is designed with a total length of 115 km. The basic design and commercial feasibility study are in progress and investment are being sought through bidding. The project will be an extension of the 4-lane Sialkot-Kharian Motorway which is under procurement.
The construction of the Kharian-Rawalpindi section shall complete the Lahore-Sialkot-Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway network. It will be a major initiative to connect SME hubs for job creation and productivity enhancement. Ms. Mazhar stated that the third project specifically focuses on three SDGs including SDG 3: good health and well-being, SDG 9: Industry, innovation, and infrastructure, and SDG 10: reduced inequalities.
She stressed that completion of this project will ensure the availability of cost-effective healthcare services in Pakistan, lead to a reduction in import bill and create job opportunities in the healthcare sector.
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