Daily Times

Chinese and Pakistani diplomats signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for five projects in transport, health, energy, and agriculture in Karachi, with support from the Sindh government.

The agreements include local assembly of electric cars, local manufacturing of solar panels, production of slow-release fertilizers, algae farming, and the establishment of a medical city in the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone.

Sindh Energy Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah hosted this signing ceremony at his office. Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and Sindh Special Assistant to Chief Minister Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar were also present.

On this auspicious occasion of the signing of MoU with Chinese investors, while speaking with the media, Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport, and Mass Transit, Sharjeel Inam Memon, maintained that a delegation of investors from China had visited Sindh and had a meeting with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.

He said that the Sindh government would provide all possible help to Chinese investors in any field they would like to invest. The investors also met with former President Asif Ali Zardari, where the Chinese ambassador was also present. During the meeting, Asif Ali Zardari assured that the governments of Pakistan and Sindh would provide full support to Chinese investors wherever they choose to invest in the country.

Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the friendship of China and Pakistan is of exemplary nature. He said that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had laid its foundation. He said that in 2008, during the PPP government, President Asif Ali Zardari had started the project of CPEC. He said that China is the destination of his most frequent visits. Despite the opposition at that time, President Zardari envisioned CPEC not just as a corridor but as a way to bring the two nations closer and enhance Pakistan’s economy. He mentioned that Chinese investors have expressed interest in investing in various sectors. Special Assistant to the Chief Minister, Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar, accompanied the delegation on a visit to the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone, where the investors showed significant interest and expressed a desire to establish industries. He noted that the Dhabeji Economic Zone is the only zone connected to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that Pakistan has attained the top position in global rankings for Public-Private Partnerships, which he credited to Sindh province. He explained that Sindh has executed and implemented major projects through the Public-Private Partnership model. He said several such mega initiatives are working well across the province.

He said investors have shown interest in setting up a state-of-the-art medical city in Pakistan, and the Sindh government has assured them of all possible support.

He also mentioned the government’s initiative to launch EV (electric vehicle) taxis to create employment opportunities for youth. The government has issued a notification for the launch of a scheme following the directives of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and former President Asif Ali Zardari. It will provide livelihood opportunities to thousands of youth in the country. This taxi service will help the environment by reducing emissions and providing transport facilities to passengers at cheaper rates. The head of the investment department explained the key position of the investment department throughout the process. He welcomed Qasim Naveed Qamar, who has worked commendably since taking charge and deserves appreciation. The minister stated that their aim was to increase the relationship between the businessmen of Pakistan and China, so they could easily exchange business models and, thus, benefit from this relation.

He said that the visit of Chinese investors was successful, and he added that China is a brotherly country with which Pakistan has excellent relations.

He said that China has always supported Pakistan in difficult times. He further said that the establishment of more industries would lead to more employment opportunities. He said that the creation of a medical city alone would provide jobs to fifty thousand people. He said that Pakistan cannot rely on government jobs and has to expand the industrial opportunities. While responding to a question, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the Sindh government would provide full cooperation to the investors for this medical city.

He mentioned that an MoU was being signed for this project and said that products made in Pakistan would also be exported to other countries, which will benefit the country. He also highlighted that there is a ten-year tax exemption for industries established in the Dhabeji Economic Zone, which provides significant relief to businessmen. This initiative is intended to support all investors who choose to do business in the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone. Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Qasim Naveed Qamar said that granite was being exported from Pakistan, and after processing in other countries, was sold back in the local market. He emphasized that the government would make all efforts to ensure that granite processing is carried out within Pakistan itself.

He pointed to another query that Pakistan has vast storehouses of natural wealth, recalling that Thar granite material has been utilized for the construction of the FTC building. Mr. Memon further points out that the Thar region has reserves of tens of billions of tons of coal, where, under the estimates of the experts this coal can generate economical electricity by which it will be well sold for at least a couple of centuries.

Speaking at a press conference, Minister for Energy and Planning and Development Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said fertilization is a prime requirement.

He said that a coal gasification plant would be erected on 200 acres of land, which would greatly add to the energy production. The solar parks are also being erected, which would be a great help for the energy sector. He underscored that the electricity produced from coal would prove to be more crucial in filling up the energy deficit of the country. He said that the government of Sindh will fix the rates of electricity produced through solar parks, and people will be able to buy electricity at Rs 18 per unit from those parks. Electricity rates will be fixed by SEPRA (Sindh Energy Power Regulatory Authority) and STDC (Sindh Transmission and Distribution Company).

Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said in reply to a question that there are three federal representatives in K-Electric, but no one from Sindh.

He elaborated that though there is a mechanism for load shedding and tariffs, the Sindh has no representation as a result of which, the province has no say in the decision-making process. He further highlighted that the Sindh government desires that cheap electricity be made accessible to the public, and it is also the vision of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.