Invest in Sindh · Investor guide
Sindh is Pakistan’s port province and its commercial heart. This guide sets out why industry chooses Sindh, which SEZMC zone fits your sector, the rules that apply today and how to start a conversation with SEZMC.
Information reviewed October 2026. Policies change: confirm terms with SEZMC before you decide.
01Why Sindh
Sindh combines an established industrial base, developed infrastructure, two international ports and strong financial institutions. Karachi, its capital, is Pakistan’s financial and commercial capital and its largest city.
- 2
- all-weather seaports: Karachi Port and Port Qasimsezmc.gos.pk
- Karachi
- Pakistan’s financial and commercial capital, and its largest citysezmc.gos.pk
- 185 bn t
- coal reserves at Thar, among the largest in the worldsezmc.gos.pk
- 6
- SEZMC zones and enclaves, from Karachi to Upper SindhSEZMC
02Advantages
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01
Financial capital
Karachi is Pakistan’s financial and commercial capital and its largest metropolis, with the headquarters of major banks, financial institutions and business houses, and the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
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02
Regional hub
Karachi has strong, long-standing links with China, the Middle East and South Asia, and is a potential gateway to the Central Asian republics.
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03
Energy
Sindh can generate a healthy mix of energy: a wind corridor, the coal reserves of Thar, high solar radiation, and much of Pakistan’s oil and gas production.
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04
Industrial estates
A wide network of industrial estates set up by the Government of Sindh, besides national industrial parks, the Port Qasim Industrial Area and the Karachi Export Processing Zone.
- Sukkur
- Benazirabad
- Nooriabad
- Hyderabad
- Kotri
- Karachi
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05
Agriculture and minerals
Year-round production of wheat, cotton, rice, sugarcane, fruit and vegetables, and mineral reserves for value addition.
- Coal
- Granite
- Silica sand
- Limestone
- Salt
- Gypsum
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06
People and markets
A trained, educated and competitive workforce, a large and growing domestic market with an emerging middle class, and an established legal system, telecommunications and road and rail network.
Source: SEZMC, Competitive Advantages (sezmc.gos.pk).
03Connectivity
Distances from each SEZMC project to ports, motorways, rail and airports, as given in SEZMC’s presentations and plans. Choose a kind of link to compare the zones.
Ports
| Project | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Dhabeji SEZ | Port QasimSEZMC earlier website | 22 km |
| MCK Industrial Park | Karachi PortPresentation, slide 11 | 40 km |
| MCK Industrial Park | Port QasimPresentation, slide 11 | 60 km |
| Hyderabad Industrial Enclave | Karachi Port120-acre master plan | 185 km |
| Sukkur Industrial Enclave | Karachi PortMaster plan, June 2025 | 450 km |
Not published for: Khairpur SEZ, Shaheed Benazirabad Industrial Enclave.
Motorways and highways
| Project | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Dhabeji SEZ | National Highway N-5SEZMC earlier website | 0.5 km |
| MCK Industrial Park | Northern Bypass (M-10)Presentation, slide 11 | 1.2 km |
| Sukkur Industrial Enclave | M-5 motorway interchangeMaster plan, June 2025 | 2.6 km |
| MCK Industrial Park | Karachi–Hyderabad Motorway (M-9)Presentation, slide 11 | 25 km |
Not published for: Khairpur SEZ, Hyderabad Industrial Enclave, Shaheed Benazirabad Industrial Enclave.
Rail
| Project | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Sukkur Industrial Enclave | ML-1 main lineLocation study | 2.5 km |
| Dhabeji SEZ | Dhabeji railway station (ML-1)Presentation, slide 7 | 9.5 km |
Not published for: Khairpur SEZ, MCK Industrial Park, Hyderabad Industrial Enclave, Shaheed Benazirabad Industrial Enclave.
Airports
| Project | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Hyderabad Industrial Enclave | Hyderabad Airport120-acre master plan | 10 km |
| Sukkur Industrial Enclave | Sukkur AirportMaster plan, June 2025 | 18 km |
| Dhabeji SEZ | Karachi Airportsezmc.gos.pk | 35 km |
Not published for: Khairpur SEZ, MCK Industrial Park, Shaheed Benazirabad Industrial Enclave.
Approximate distances from SEZMC material; each row names its source. A blank means SEZMC has not published that distance.
04Key sectors
Choose your sector to see which SEZMC projects name it in their published plans, and what each one says.
Food and agro-processing
4 of 6 SEZMC projects name this sector
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Khairpur Special Economic Zone
OperationalAgro-food processing: dates dehydration, fruit and vegetable processing, dairy and packaging.
Explore the project: Khairpur Special Economic Zone -
Dhabeji Special Economic Zone
Under developmentFood processing and packaging (light industry).
Explore the project: Dhabeji Special Economic Zone -
Hyderabad Industrial Enclave
PlannedAgro-processing and other value-added industries.
Explore the project: Hyderabad Industrial Enclave -
Sukkur Industrial Enclave
PlannedHalal food processing (medium industrial cluster).
Explore the project: Sukkur Industrial Enclave
No mention of this sector in published material yet: MCK Industrial Park, Shaheed Benazirabad Industrial Enclave
Textiles and apparel
4 of 6 SEZMC projects name this sector
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Dhabeji Special Economic Zone
Under developmentGarments (cut and stitching units), textile value addition and large-scale textile processing.
Explore the project: Dhabeji Special Economic Zone -
Sukkur Industrial Enclave
PlannedApparel and garments (medium industrial cluster).
Explore the project: Sukkur Industrial Enclave -
Hyderabad Industrial Enclave
PlannedTextiles are among the industries already present; the city has the country’s second-largest khadi industry.
Explore the project: Hyderabad Industrial Enclave -
Khairpur Special Economic Zone
OperationalCotton ginning (non-food processing).
Explore the project: Khairpur Special Economic Zone
No mention of this sector in published material yet: MCK Industrial Park, Shaheed Benazirabad Industrial Enclave
Automotive and electric vehicles
2 of 6 SEZMC projects name this sector
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Dhabeji Special Economic Zone
Under developmentAutomobile manufacturing (electric vehicles) and auto parts, including lithium batteries.
Explore the project: Dhabeji Special Economic Zone -
Hyderabad Industrial Enclave
PlannedA prime location for producing electric bikes and vehicles; Chamber members cover 40% of the country’s motorcycle industry.
Explore the project: Hyderabad Industrial Enclave
No mention of this sector in published material yet: Khairpur SEZ, MCK Industrial Park, Sukkur Industrial Enclave, Shaheed Benazirabad Industrial Enclave
Electronics and solar
1 of 6 SEZMC projects names this sector
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Dhabeji Special Economic Zone
Under developmentConsumer electronics assembly, such as mobile phones and semiconductors; solar panels, inverters and parts.
Explore the project: Dhabeji Special Economic Zone
No mention of this sector in published material yet: Khairpur SEZ, MCK Industrial Park, Hyderabad Industrial Enclave, Sukkur Industrial Enclave, Shaheed Benazirabad Industrial Enclave
Pharmaceuticals and chemicals
3 of 6 SEZMC projects name this sector
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Dhabeji Special Economic Zone
Under developmentPharmaceutical packaging and formulation; chemical manufacturing, such as industrial chemicals and paints.
Explore the project: Dhabeji Special Economic Zone -
Hyderabad Industrial Enclave
PlannedPharmaceuticals are among the industries already present.
Explore the project: Hyderabad Industrial Enclave -
Khairpur Special Economic Zone
OperationalMedicinal herb processing; composite and organic fertilisers.
Explore the project: Khairpur Special Economic Zone
No mention of this sector in published material yet: MCK Industrial Park, Sukkur Industrial Enclave, Shaheed Benazirabad Industrial Enclave
Engineering, machinery and steel
2 of 6 SEZMC projects name this sector
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Dhabeji Special Economic Zone
Under developmentMachinery and equipment, steel fabrication, agricultural equipment assembly, cold-chain and refrigeration equipment.
Explore the project: Dhabeji Special Economic Zone -
Khairpur Special Economic Zone
OperationalLight engineering: farm equipment, electric water motors and fans.
Explore the project: Khairpur Special Economic Zone
No mention of this sector in published material yet: MCK Industrial Park, Hyderabad Industrial Enclave, Sukkur Industrial Enclave, Shaheed Benazirabad Industrial Enclave
Marble, granite and construction materials
3 of 6 SEZMC projects name this sector
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MCK Industrial Park
Under developmentValue addition of marble and granite; construction and allied industry.
Explore the project: MCK Industrial Park -
Dhabeji Special Economic Zone
Under developmentConstruction materials, such as prefabricated structures; furniture manufacturing.
Explore the project: Dhabeji Special Economic Zone -
Khairpur Special Economic Zone
OperationalChipboard manufacturing.
Explore the project: Khairpur Special Economic Zone
No mention of this sector in published material yet: Hyderabad Industrial Enclave, Sukkur Industrial Enclave, Shaheed Benazirabad Industrial Enclave
Gems and jewellery
1 of 6 SEZMC projects names this sector
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Sukkur Industrial Enclave
PlannedGem processing (medium industrial cluster).
Explore the project: Sukkur Industrial Enclave
No mention of this sector in published material yet: Khairpur SEZ, Dhabeji SEZ, MCK Industrial Park, Hyderabad Industrial Enclave, Shaheed Benazirabad Industrial Enclave
A match means a project’s published material names your sector. It is not an assessment of eligibility, an approval or an offer of land or incentives. The Investor Desk will advise on your case.
Sources: SEZMC projects presentation (Dhabeji sectors, slide 9; MCK, slide 15; Hyderabad, slide 20); sezmc.gos.pk (Khairpur, Sukkur, MCK, Hyderabad).
05Zones
One zone in operation, two under development and three new enclaves in planning.
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Operational
Khairpur Special Economic Zone
Pakistan’s first industrial park to be awarded SEZ status under the SEZ Act 2012: a 140-acre agro-processing zone on the National Highway near Khairpur, the City of Dates.
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Under development
Dhabeji Special Economic Zone
A CPEC priority special economic zone in Thatta District, on National Highway N-5 near Port Qasim, planned for light, medium and heavy industry.
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Under development
MCK Industrial Park
An industrial estate on Karachi’s Northern Bypass for value-added marble, granite and allied industries.
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Planned
Hyderabad Industrial Enclave
About 951 acres identified in two parcels near Hyderabad, on the east bank of the Indus, with the M-9 to Karachi’s two ports.
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Planned
Sukkur Industrial Enclave
A 400-acre industrial enclave identified in District Sukkur, on the left bank of the Indus opposite Rohri, off ML-1 and near Sukkur Airport.
- Planned Shaheed Benazirabad Industrial Enclave A new industrial enclave proposed in Shaheed Benazirabad under public–private partnership. Location and land details will follow the feasibility work.
06Policies and incentives
The laws and policies behind SEZMC’s zones, what each provides, and where things stand now.
01 Special Economic Zones Act, 2012 (as amended)
What it provides
Lets federal or provincial governments set up special economic zones, alone or with the private sector. For approved zones, the Act provides a one-time exemption from customs duties and taxes on capital goods imported for the zone, for developers and zone enterprises, and an exemption from taxes on income for a fixed period, under its conditions.
Status today
In force. For its fiscal incentives, see the note above. It applies to zones approved as SEZs under the Act, such as Khairpur and Dhabeji. MCK Industrial Park is planned as an industrial estate, not an SEZ.
Read the document (PDF)02 Sindh Public-Private Partnership Act, 2010 (amended 2011, 2014, 2018)
What it provides
The framework for private-sector participation in infrastructure projects in Sindh: the basis on which SEZMC develops Dhabeji and plans the Hyderabad, Sukkur and Shaheed Benazirabad enclaves.
Status today
In force.
Read the document (PDF)03 Pakistan’s investment policy
What it provides
A liberal policy open to local and foreign investors in all sectors. No federal or provincial permission is needed to set up an industry in any sector or location, except arms and ammunition, high explosives, radioactive substances, security printing, currency and mint, and alcohol.
Status today
As summarised by SEZMC. Confirm current rules with the Board of Investment.
Official website04 Sindh investment policy
What it provides
Objectives: self-reliance; value-added exports; skills for efficiency, productivity and quality; high-tech and labour-intensive industry; planned industrial estates and zones; and investment spread across the province.
Status today
As published by SEZMC.
05 Companies Act, 2017
What it provides
Company incorporation and corporate regulation, administered by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan.
Status today
In force (version updated 18 August 2022 on sezmc.gos.pk).
Read the document (PDF)07Doing business
SEZMC publishes a tentative delivery time for each of its services to zone enterprises.
- Drawing and map approval 3 days
- NOC for utilities 3 days
- Water supply facilitation 3 days
- Bifurcation 7 days
- Change of business name 7 days
- Change of business nature 7 days
- Transfer of plot 15 days
- Application for a plot Time not stated
- Lease of a plot Time not stated
Tentative delivery times, as published by SEZMC (Functions).
Federal facilitation
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Board of Investment (BOI)invest.gov.pk
The federal investment promotion agency and secretariat for special economic zone approvals; publishes the current incentives.
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SEZ Management Information Systemsezmis.invest.gov.pk
The Board of Investment’s online system for special economic zones.
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Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC)sifc.gov.pk
Set up in 2023 as a single window for investors, coordinating federal and provincial departments.
08Start an inquiry
SEZMC, a company of the Government of Sindh, develops industrial zones and clusters and aims to be a one-stop shop for investors: from choosing a zone to plot allotment, approvals and utility connections.
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1
Choose a zone
Use the sector explorer and the project pages to shortlist where your plant fits.
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2
Contact the Investor Desk
Share your sector, the land and utilities you need and your timeline.
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3
Next steps
The Investor Desk advises on availability, current terms and how to apply in the zone you choose.
