Sindh government has launched several initiatives along with the new Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to attract both local and foreign investments.
During a meeting with Australian High Commissioner, Neil Hawkins, the Chief Minister of Sindh, Murad Ali Shah, discussed matters of mutual interest, including investment, climate change, the Indus Delta, Archaeology, and others.
The meeting took place at the Chief Minister’s House, with Secretary to CM Rahim Sheikh also present.
Addressing water scarcity issues, the Chief Minister stated that, “Sindh being the lower riparian province is faced with water shortage, therefore the water required to be released to [downstream Kotri] sea has been an invincible job,” while added as a result, sea intrusion has become a big threat.
He stressed the importance of preserving the Indus Delta, which Hawkins acknowledged as a region with a rich history in need of protection.
Murad Ali Shah highlighted that the Sindh government had implemented several steps to attract both local and foreign investors.
He emphasized the availability of land and utilities for investment in areas like the Dhabiji Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Bin Qasim Industrial Park, and Korangi Creek Industrial Park.
Shah also mentioned that industries with investments of at least $50 million could benefit from Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status.
The CM also discussed the Sindh Enterprise Development Fund (SED), which has secured Rs 7 billion in private sector investments for agriculture, mining, and natural resources, delivering an economic return of ten times the initial investment.
He shared that the government was working on the “Click Project,” which would centralize approvals from 16 departments to ease the investment process.
The Australian High Commissioner expressed his admiration for a message by the late Benazir Bhutto that he had seen during his visit to Bambhore, noting it would remain in his personal record.
Additionally, the two discussed their shared passion for hockey, with the Chief Minister lamenting that despite the installation of blue turf in Sindh’s hockey grounds, no new talent had emerged.