Chinese bus manufacturing company Foton Motors will sign a deal with the Sindh government tomorrow (Saturday) to operate 2,000 CNG buses on the roads of the province.
This was informed during a between the President Asif Ali Zardari and a delegation of Foton Motors Group.
The president said that it is a matter of great pleasure that the potential of traditional Pak-China trade was now being translated into economic terms and that Chinese investors were taking keen interest in exploring business opportunities in Pakistan.
The company has designed modern buses for Pakistan to meet specific cultural and demographic needs of the country with environment friendly fuels such as CNG, LPG and hybrid diesel and hydrogen fuel cells.
The president said that the aim is to transform Pakistan into one of the most attractive investment destinations and provide all possible facilitation for promotion of business ventures.
He said there was an urgent need for upgrading the existing transport network in the mega cities which in turn offers great investment opportunities to the national and international investors.
Earlier in the day, Foton Transport Company Beijing entered an agreement to provide 111 CNG buses to Lahore Transport Company within the next few months, according to board of investment.
The board of investment is negotiating with various companies for provision of reliable transport facility in the country, said chairman Saleem H Mandviwalla on Thursday while talking to a delegation of bus company Foton China.
The chairman added that the government was encouraging investment in the country’s transport sector.
Around 200 to 300 CNG/LPG buses have already started operating city to city and inter-city within Sialkot following an agreement with the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Vice President of Foton Group ye Zhaoyou, said that the key to Foton’s success was quality and dedication towards their products, adding Foton was a name associated with commitment and perseverance, known worldwide for their traditional quality and excellence of products.
Foton is a commercial vehicle manufacturer ranked number one in Asia and second globally, according to the company’s website. Foton is investing in the automobile and transport sector of Pakistan, Mass Transit System in major cities and assembly line for cars, light/medium and heavy duty trucks as there is a huge potential market available in Pakistan.
with additional input by APP
Published in The Express Tribune, August 5th, 2011.
COMMENTS (13)
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@Cautious: Where did you see Chinese coming as driver in the bus deal? Can you even imagine Chinese driver on Karachi roads? Don't worry this job is safe for Pakistanis, nobody dare to drive here.
Did, both parties sigh the deal (MOU) or still not yet ?
Are they simply nuts, how are they going to sort out the CNG shortage. If government for the sake of foreign investment gives them priority then i believe that there are more darker days coming towards other provinces.
I hate the fact that there is so much pessimism here...look on the bright side...at least something good is being done!
The transport system should use the BRT approach. That will clean up the traffic problem! Govt will need to dial Jaime Lerner's number for that! [I wonder:does it even know who he is?]
Tens of thousands of Pakistani's are forced to go overseas to provide a living for their families --- and your bringing in thousands of Chinese to drive your buses. No offense -- but that doesn't make any sense to me. Driving a bus is something that most Pakistani's can be trained to do --- it's a decent job - one that should go to a Pakistani.
Should this not be a provincial matter decided by the chief minister?
@Fareed: You are right, but what would be their advantage in doing so? Nobody in today's world merely help. Why would one want to setup manufacturing plant when the city is so volatile?
We need this in whole of Pakistan...
wish we could maintain such a transport system here in Pakistan!
"The Vice President of Foton Group ye Zhaoyou, said that the key to Foton’s success was qualitywith commitment and perseverance, known worldwide for their and dedication towards their products, adding Foton was a name associated traditional quality and excellence of products." ----------Many people in pak haven't heard about this bus.
however why don't you manufacture these buses here in Karachi ? we have unemployement rate high here .If you really want to help us ,then in stead of importing or assembling these buses ,manufacture these busese here.
Good News! So how does this Chinese company plans to cope with CNG loadshedding and the arsonal attacks during strikes?
The government is unable to provide cng to the existing consumer base how does it plan to manage these 2000 new entrants?