Industrial Infrastructure Expert - REMIT Programme

Industrial Infrastructure Expert - SEZs Phase-Out Implementation Plan  

Background

The Revenue Mobilisation, Investment and Trade (REMIT) Programme, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by Adam Smith International (ASI), provides technical assistance to the Government of Pakistan to improve the business environment, attract investment, and support sustainable economic growth.

Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have faced persistent challenges related to the availability, reliability, and cost of industrial infrastructure and utilities. In many zones, delays in the provision of internal and external infrastructure—including electricity, gas, water, wastewater treatment, internal roads, and common facilities—have constrained investor uptake and slowed the transition from land allotment to productive operations. These infrastructure gaps have undermined investor confidence, reduced colonisation rates, and weakened the competitiveness of SEZs, despite the availability of fiscal incentives.

In line with commitments under Pakistan’s IMF programme, the Government of Pakistan is undertaking an SEZ Phase-Out Implementation Plan to transition away from profit-based incentives toward a model anchored in cost-based and non-fiscal facilitation. Improving infrastructure readiness and reducing infrastructure-related costs of doing business are central to this transition. As part of this effort, REMIT seeks to engage an Industrial Infrastructure Expert to provide specialised technical expertise on SEZ infrastructure diagnostics, optimisation, and implementation readiness.

Job Summary

The objective of the assignment is to provide technical expertise to support the Government of Pakistan in assessing and strengthening the industrial infrastructure and utilities framework underpinning the SEZ Phase-Out Implementation Plan, with a focus on Phase A (Planning and Assessment) of the IMF-mandated reform programme.

The Industrial Infrastructure Expert will support the Board of Investment (BoI) and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) by conducting detailed diagnostics of SEZ-level infrastructure and utility provision, identifying binding constraints to colonisation and operations, and advising on cost-effective, implementable infrastructure solutions. The role will focus on assessing both external connectivity (up to zero point) and internal zone infrastructure, and on linking infrastructure readiness with cost-based and non-fiscal incentive design.

The Expert will work closely with the SEZ Policy & Governance Lead, Fiscal & Incentives Expert, Legal & Contractual Expert, and other team members to ensure that infrastructure considerations are fully integrated into the SEZ transition framework, pilot design, and implementation roadmap.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Industrial Infrastructure Expert will be responsible for providing specialised technical input on infrastructure and utilities under the SEZ Phase-Out Implementation Plan. Key duties and responsibilities include:

·       Conduct comprehensive infrastructure diagnostics of existing SEZs, including assessment of electricity, gas, water, sewerage, wastewater treatment, internal roads, boundary works, and common facilities.

·       Assess the availability and reliability of external utilities and connectivity up to the zero point, including coordination with relevant utility providers and authorities.

·       Identify infrastructure-related bottlenecks affecting colonisation, investor operations, and time-to-production, and analyse their impact on SEZ competitiveness.

·       Support the classification and prioritisation of SEZs based on infrastructure readiness, optimisation potential, and alignment with IMF constraints.

·       Provide technical inputs to the fiscal cost analysis, including estimation of infrastructure-related capital and operational expenditures and their implications for cost-based incentive design.

·       Advise on cost-based and non-fiscal facilitation measures related to infrastructure provision, shared services, and plug-and-play models to reduce investors’ upfront costs.

·       Benchmark Pakistan’s SEZ infrastructure standards and service delivery models against international best practices and peer countries.

·       Support the preparation of the Concept Note and analytical outputs by contributing infrastructure-focused findings, reform options, and implementation considerations.

·       Contribute to the design of a pilot SEZ, including assessment of infrastructure gaps, sequencing of infrastructure investments, and implementation readiness.

·       Participate in stakeholder consultations with federal and provincial authorities, SEZ developers, and utility providers to validate findings and proposed infrastructure solutions.

·       Provide technical quality assurance for infrastructure-related deliverables, ensuring consistency with TOR objectives, IMF requirements, and overall SEZ transition strategy.

·       Work closely with the SEZ Policy & Governance Lead and REMIT team to ensure coherence between infrastructure recommendations, fiscal reforms, and legal and governance measures.

Qualifications and Experience

·       Degree (Master’s preferred) in Engineering, Infrastructure Planning, Industrial Development, or a closely related technical field.

·       Minimum 10 years of professional experience in industrial infrastructure development, SEZs, industrial estates, or large-scale infrastructure projects.

·       Demonstrated experience assessing zone-level infrastructure and utilities, including electricity, gas, water, sewerage, and internal road networks.

·       Proven experience working with public sector authorities, SEZ developers, and utility providers on infrastructure planning, delivery, or optimisation.

·       Strong understanding of infrastructure-related constraints affecting industrial competitiveness and investment facilitation in emerging markets.

·       Experience supporting infrastructure diagnostics and reform initiatives under donor-funded technical assistance programmes is highly desirable.

·       Ability to translate technical assessments into practical, phased, and implementable recommendations aligned with fiscal and institutional realities.

·       Experience participating in stakeholder consultations and incorporating technical feedback into final analytical and policy outputs.

·       Strong diagnostic, reporting, and technical advisory skills, with the ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary technical teams.

Reporting line

·       The Industrial Infrastructure Expert will work closely with REMIT team and will report to REMIT Team Lead and Investment Climate Lead. The assignment will require close engagement with key governments stakeholders along with presentation and review of deliverables by REMIT team, FCDO and other key stakeholders.

Closing Date: 18 March 2026