Govt shifts focus of Special Technology Zones to industrial and tech investment, STZA chairman tells NA panel

ISLAMABAD: In a bid to turn its Special Technology Zones into hubs for investment, jobs and economic activity, the government is shifting their focus from residential development to technology and industrial production, the authority’s chairman told a National Assembly panel on Thursday. Briefing the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, chaired by Malik Abrar Ahmed, Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) Chairman Azfar Manzoor said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had allowed incentives for special zones to continue until 2035, but wanted the benefits gradually redirected towards productive and industrial activities. “The focus is now on encouraging investors to establish technology and industrial units rather than limiting projects to residential developments, ” he said. He also briefed the committee on STZA’s administrative structure, performance, existing technology zones and expansion plans, saying the authority was operating with a highly limited workforce of just 48 employees. The committee reviewed STZA’s performance, the establishment and expansion of technology zones and measures to attract investment into the sector. Manzoor said the authority was particularly pursuing projects that combine residential facilities with technology and industrial activity, including in Islamabad’s B-17 area. He said applications had been received for 50 additional technology zones, while progress was under way on 39 zones. Of these, 20 were operational and work on 12 others was under way, adding that STZA processed applications for new zones after assessing their requirements. He said STZA was also working to establish and expand technology zones in Lahore and other cities. The authority, he added, had acquired 140 acres of land from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for an integrated project comprising an industrial zone, an IT park, and commercial and residential facilities. Committee member Ramesh Kumar questioned why the IMF had raised concerns over incentives for special technology zones if the authority’s performance and expansion were progressing satisfactorily. Manzoor clarified that the IMF had not ended the incentives altogether, but had allowed them to remain in place until 2035, with an emphasis on gradually shifting them towards productive and industrial activities. The meeting also examined concerns over the misuse of technology. Tahira Aurangzeb, a member of the committee, said that while technology had brought significant benefits, its misuse was creating new social problems. Referring to an alleged incident in Rawalpindi involving young people being lured through technology, she asked what action could be taken against websites and companies involved in such practices. Manzoor said companies registered with STZA were required to maintain good reputations and were subject to monitoring. He said STZA had an effective mechanism to oversee companies operating under its umbrella. He said the broader objective of the technology zones was to boost investment, industrial activity and employment while strengthening Pakistan’s capacity in advanced technology. Committee members called for stronger oversight of technology zones, greater efforts to attract investment, equitable regional development and measures to prevent the misuse of technology. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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