The
Province situated in the North of the country, is also a gateway to the newly
independent Central Asian States via Afghanistan. There are three major industrial
zones in the Province situated in Peshawar, the capital of the Province; Gadoon
Amazai, Distt. Swabi and Hat tar, District Haripur, apart from other medium
and small industrial estates. The Risalpur Export Processing Zone is situated
approximately 45km from Peshawar on the main Nowshera-Mardan road and is just
3 k.m. from the alignment of the Peshawar- Islamabad Motorway. The Motorway
leads to the road to the Central Asian States through the Peshawar by-pass
road .
In order to promote industrialisation and to locate the EPZ at the gateway
to Central Asia, it was decided to convert SIZ Nowshera into EPZ Risalpur.
It is about 110 k.m. from the international border of Torkham, the gateway
to Central Asia where new markets are expected to be opened shortly through
the land route. The area is surrounded by Industries, and, sufficient cheap
skilled manpower is available. Ideal educational & health facilities are
also available for the children in the area .