The Maqpondass Special Economic Zone is being established in Gilgit-Baltistan with the cooperation of the Special Investment Facilitation Council, according to a Radio Pakistan report dated 10 October 2026. The zone covers 250 acres, equal to 2,000 kanal, and is planned under a public-private partnership framework. This article sets out what the report confirms, and what it does not say.
Key facts from the report
- 250 acres (2,000 kanal) of land
- Public-private partnership framework
- Cooperation of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC)
- Aim: investment and employment opportunities
- Leveraging Gilgit-Baltistan’s natural resources and access to Chinese markets
Planned sectors
- Agriculture
- Minerals
- Handicrafts
- Wood products
The report says the zone is expected to create investment and employment opportunities across these four sectors, and to boost commercial activity in the region.
What the report does not announce
The Radio Pakistan report does not describe a citizen-facing scheme. It announces no application process, no plot allotment, no incentives, no timeline and no job numbers. Readers should not treat the zone as an open programme for applications.
A note on spelling and background
The name is spelled Maqpondass in the Radio Pakistan report. Variants such as Maqpoondas and Moqpondass appear in other press coverage. Earlier planning mentions from 2015, 2018 and 2024 are background only and do not describe the current status.
Official report and related reading
Read the original announcement in the official Radio Pakistan report, dated 10 October 2026, linked below.
Radio Pakistan report on the Maqpondass Special Economic Zone
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