KARACHI: In a moment of glory for Pakistan and Sindh, Khairpur Special Economic Zone (SEZ) has been included in the Top Industrial Zones of Asia-Pacific in the Global Free Zones of the Year 2025 – Best Industrial Zones Awards, organized by fDi Intelligence, the UK-based subsidiary company of the Financial Times.
This global recognition is a testament to the industrial advancement of Sindh, placing it among leading investment hubs of the Asia-Pacific region. The award shows Pakistan’s growing potential as an industrial and export hub.
Award for Excellence in Innovation and Sustainability
fDI intelligence Awards observed 45 the word’s best performing economic zone based on investment attraction, infrastructure quality, governance, innovation, and sustainability. Khairpur Special Economic Zone was characterized by its agro-industrial focus, supply chain strength, and strong value addition focus in indigenous agricultural economies. Khairpur Special Economic Zone was hailed by the report for its food processing, local sourcing, and export-led manufacturing, as a model of inclusive and sustainable development in Pakistan.
Sindh’s First Economic Zone Paving Way For Industrial Revolution
Established in 2012, the SEZ Khairpur is Pakistan’s first officially notified Special Economic Zone. It has since then been converted into a viable industrial complex with multiple units for operation in the fields of fruit pulping, packaging, cold storage, date dehydration, FMCG manufacturing, and agro-processing.
These sectors not only provide value addition to Sindh’s fertile agricultural base but also create jobs and encourage economic activity in the province’s northern corridor. The infrastructure in the zone is provided with advanced facilities, stable utilities, and direct connectivity to National Highway N-5, providing hassle-free connectivity to the ports in Karachi and major local markets.
Sindh Government’s Visionary Approach Pays Off
The award is in recognition of the vision of Sindh government led by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who have been emphasizing industrialization, job creation, and diversification of exports as pillars of economic advancement at all times.
With initiatives such as Khairpur SEZ, the Sindh government is working towards de-centralization of industry, promoting regional development, and developing Sindh as an investor-friendly and competitive global economy.
Good Governance and Global Recognition
The achievement also highlights the core role of the Sindh Economic Zones Management Company (SEZMC) in backing and maintaining industrial clusters all over the province. SEZMC’s focus on investor facilitation, sustainability, and long-term value creation has been in the center of Sindh’s rising industrial image.
Hammad Shams, Manager Marketing & Communication, SEZMC, stated:
“By this Financial Times accolade, Khairpur SEZ is being promoted as a shining example of sustainable and inclusive economic growth. It attests to the way public-private partnership and planning can deliver transformative results.”
Boosting Investor Confidence and International Reputation
The award will hopefully enhance investor confidence and attract foreign direct investment (FDI) into Sindh. It also cements the province as a competitive industrial hub that enables innovation and export-led growth.
Khairpur SEZ, within five hours of drive from Karachi, offers investors a competitive edge through its top-of-the-class infrastructure, low cost of logistics, and policy incentive advantages.
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With this recognition, Sindh joins Asia-Pacific’s leading industrializing economies — a testament to the industrial prowess of Pakistan and its arrival as a regional trade force. The Financial Times’ recognition not only cements Khairpur SEZ’s achievement but also places Sindh at the forefront among forces driving the destiny of Pakistan’s industrial revolution.
