Sindh government secures $1 billion investment for Health City in Karachi

Karachi, Monday, December 9, 2024: Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Anam Memon stated that the Sindh government is working to create new employment opportunities. “Today, we also met with global investors who have expressed interest in investing in the agriculture, health, transport, and energy sectors. In the health sector, we plan to establish a health city in Karachi, which will include research laboratories and facilities for manufacturing medical equipment. Investors have pledged to invest one billion dollars in the medical sector alone, which includes purchasing land in the Dhabeji Economic Zone and setting up industries. This project is expected to create fifty thousand jobs for local residents,” he added.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport, and Mass Transit, Sharjeel Inam Memon, stated, “No matter how much negative propaganda or conspiracies are spread, international investors remain interested in investing in Pakistan. Despite these challenges, global businessmen continue to have faith in the government and are prepared to invest in various sectors.”

He stated that foreign investors are also keen to invest in the agricultural sector, acknowledging that the prices of fertilizers, seeds, and other inputs are very high, along with the costs of tube wells. “We aim to increase our agricultural productivity to match that of other nations. The Sindh government is working for people from all walks of life, and we have thoughtfully invited investors to come and invest here. Foreign investors have also shown significant interest in the energy sector. In addition to wind power generation, we are producing electricity from coal. Currently, coal offers the greatest potential for electricity generation, and Thar holds one of the largest coal reserves,” he said.

Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon stated that foreign investors have also shown interest in investing in the transport sector. “Meetings with investors are ongoing, and another meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday. We aim for these meetings to yield successful and beneficial outcomes for the common people, the country, the nation, and the province of Sindh. In the transport sector, the Karachi Circular Railway remains our top priority. Previously, we held discussions with Uting, one of the world’s largest transport companies, about establishing a plant in Karachi to manufacture buses locally, thereby creating employment opportunities for the people,” he said.

He stated, “We aim to introduce bullet trains, with plans for a route from Karachi to Sukkur, to make travel easier, more affordable, and time-saving for the people. Today, we also held discussions with investors regarding our bullet train project.”

Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon stated, “I have proposed to investors to implement the bullet train project in two phases. In the first phase, the bullet train should operate from Karachi to Hyderabad, and in the second phase, it should extend from Karachi to Sukkur. Pakistan offers numerous investment opportunities, but unfortunately, our collective priorities often differ.”

He said, “Regarding the Motor Vehicle Fitness Law, the federal and provincial governments of Pakistan have not played the role they should have. Now, we are taking concrete steps to address vehicle fitness issues. Two mechanisms are under consideration: either implementing a public-private partnership model or outsourcing the process to groups equipped with fitness machinery. The Sindh government is evaluating both options. Previously, there were only two inspectors for vehicle fitness checks; now there are twenty-two, but even this number is insufficient to inspect the fitness of millions of vehicles.”

He stated, “It is the people’s right to breathe in a clean environment, and it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that right. We will soon introduce an effective solution. As a first step, we will ensure 100 percent fitness of all government vehicles, followed by the fitness of public and private transport.”

Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon stated, “Forty additional bus stops for the People’s Bus Service are being constructed in Karachi to ensure convenience for the public. I urge the people not to harass the bus staff, as the buses will only stop at designated bus stops.”