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KPK
KPEZDMC Brings International Investment Boost to KP
TP REPORT
PESHAWAR, April 20: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zones Development and Management Company and PepsiCo International have signed an agreement for the acquisition of 13.04 acres of land at Hattar Economic Zone, paving the way for the expansion of PepsiCo’s concentrate plant operations.
The agreement will bring an investment of approximately PKR 700 million and support the growth of one of only eight PepsiCo concentrate facilities worldwide.
Located with direct access to Islamabad and seamless connectivity through the Hazara Motorway, Hattar Economic Zone is emerging as a strategic logistics hub for regional and international supply chains.
Chief Executive Officer of KPEZDMC, Shaharyar Gul, said the agreement reflects growing investor confidence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and demonstrates that the province is open for business.
General Manager of PepsiCo, Amjad Saleem, said Hattar was chosen not only for practical reasons but also because of the swift facilitation and professional engagement provided by KPEZDMC.
The project is expected to create direct employment opportunities and a significant number of indirect jobs, contributing to the province’s industrial and economic growth.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zones Development and Management Company is the apex body responsible for developing and managing economic zones across the province, facilitating investment, and promoting sustainable industrial growth in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
National
UNDP, Japan Strengthen Flood Preparedness in Pakistan
TP REPORT
ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Government of Japan, is strengthening community resilience and disaster preparedness in Pakistan, particularly for vulnerable communities in Punjab province, through a project supported by a generous contribution of US$400,000 from the Government of Japan.
Pakistan continues to face increasing risks from climate-induced disasters, including recurrent flooding, which have affected millions of people and caused significant damage to livelihoods, infrastructure, and essential services. These impacts further compound existing vulnerabilities, particularly among communities already facing socio-economic challenges.
This initiative will strengthen community-based disaster preparedness and resilience in flood affected areas of South Punjab. Over a 12-month period, it is expected to directly benefit 3,000 people, particularly youth and women, by increasing their capacity to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to climate-related risks. Key activities will include training community members in early warning dissemination, preparedness planning, and first response coordination, among others.
H.E. Mr. AKAMATSU Shuichi, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, stated: “Japan remains committed to supporting Pakistan in building resilience against natural disasters. Through this initiative, we aim to promote a human security approach that empowers communities and strengthens preparedness for future risks.”
Building on the longstanding partnership between Japan and UNDP, the initiative adopts a people-centered, scalable approach to advancing human security and disaster risk reduction by strengthening local capacities to support sustainable recovery and stronger social cohesion.
Dr. Samuel Rizk, Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan, added, “Building resilience is not only about responding to disasters. It is also about strengthening the systems and capacities that help communities anticipate and withstand shocks, and recover from them over the long term. Through this partnership, we are supporting locally driven solutions that improve disaster preparedness in these communities – solutions that make recovery pathways more sustainable and inclusive.”
The initiative will be implemented as part of UNDP’s broader support to recovery and resilience efforts in Pakistan, in collaboration with national and provincial partners.
