Sindh plans China investment moot

KARACHI:

Sindh will hold an investment conference in Shanghai on October 15 as part of efforts to attract Chinese investment, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said on Thursday.

Speaking at a press conference, Sharjeel said Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah would lead a high-level delegation to China, where the provincial government would pursue business-to-business (B2B) and government-to-government (G2G) investment opportunities.

He said greater Chinese investment could create new opportunities and jobs for young Pakistanis, adding that development remained a key priority for the Sindh government.

The senior minister also announced the third Sindh Vision event would be held in Sukkur in November, following similar events in Karachi and Islamabad. Journalists, diplomats and representatives from different walks of life would be invited, while PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was also expected to attend.

Describing Sukkur as a "role model" district, he said the event would highlight the Sindh government's development work across various sectors.

Sharjeel said Thar coal was playing an increasingly important role in Pakistan's energy mix, claiming it currently accounted for 14% of the country's electricity generation. He said around $1 billion had been invested in Thar coal projects, which had also helped save foreign exchange. "Thar coal has become a game changer for Pakistan," he said.

The minister said 1,100 new schools were being constructed across Sindh this year. Forty-seven were expected to be completed by December and 800 before March. On politics, Sharjeel said the PPP would not engage with the PTI in the upcoming elections and urged the opposition party to focus on its own mistakes.

He criticised the K-P chief minister for targeting the PPP leadership, saying political decisions should not come at the expense of the province's people.

Sharjeel described terrorism as K-P's biggest challenge, claiming five of its seven divisions were affected by militancy. He accused the PTI of adopting a soft approach towards the Taliban during its tenure and demanded that the party clarify its policy on militancy.