Karachi, March 13, 2018 (PPI-OT): There are vast investment opportunities in Sindh, particularly in energy, infrastructure development, education, health, agriculture and in various other sectors. This was stated by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah while delivering his presidential speech at Iran-Pakistan Business Forum organised at a local hotel. The program was attended by a large number of Iranian businessmen led by Foreign Minister of Iran Dr Javad Zarif.
He said that Dr Javad is a seasoned diplomat and a scholarly man and he has brought a high-level delegation of leading businessmen of Iran to explore investment opportunities in Sindh and boost trade between the two countries. “His personal interest, experience and stature would definitely make difference in his endeavours,” he said.
Murad Shah said there were vast investment opportunities in Sindh, particularly in energy, infrastructure development, education, health, agriculture and in various other sectors. “We have [Sindh govt.] introduced Public Private Partnership concept which is producing best results,” he said and added some of The projects the provincial government has launched under PPP mode were Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas Road, Jhirk-Mulakatiar bridge on River Indus and various others. He added that The new project being launched under PPP mode is Kandhkot – Ghotki Bridge on River Indus.
The chief minister said that trade between the two countries showed 33 percent growth as compared to the previous year. Over last nine months, as a result of the facilities provided by the Iranian side to Pakistani rice exporters, the volume of Pakistani rice export to Iran has jumped up by 42 percent. “In Sindh, Sukkur and Larkana divisions are rice producing divisions, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad and Shaheed Benazirabad division are rich in mango production, Larkana has guava,” he said and suggested investment in agriculture sector.
Bilateral Banking ties between the two countries are developing. “I know the process is very slow but Inshallh it would be done,” he said and added he knows banking relations are necessary to expand bilateral trade which currently stands at $1.2 billion. The target is to increase it to $5 bn per annum over the next few years. Murad Ali Shah recalled that President Asif Ali Zardari had launched Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project, now it has been delayed. He hoped that the Iranian businessmen would take benefit from investment opportunities in Sindh sure the project would be completed.
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