Sindh woos Chinese investors

According to Dawn, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah pitched Sindh to Chinese investors at the second Sindh Investment Conference in Shanghai, following a 12-year gap. He cited the province's location, its sea and air links, affordable labour and a skilled workforce as reasons to invest. The Dhabeji Special Economic Zone was presented as a key option for manufacturing and export-focused firms seeking a low-cost base.

Roughly 400 delegates took part in the one-day gathering, among them investors, corporate leaders, and people representing Chinese firms and financial bodies. Sector briefings and networking formed part of the agenda, and 34 MoUs were inked between government bodies and between companies. Mr Shah said the agreements were backed by groundwork and would be turned into projects, and he listed Thar coal, EV manufacturing and charging stations, wind and solar energy, modern agriculture and digital transformation as priority areas.

Planned industrial clusters at Dhabeji would cover textiles and garments, construction materials, warehousing, steel, consumer electronics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, light engineering and automotive parts. He said Chinese manufacturers could produce in Sindh and ship finished items out via Karachi Port and Port Qasim. He also stressed the 350-kilometre shoreline and its closeness to markets in Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.