Sindh govt signs 6 MoUs for province's infrastructure at investment summit in Dubai

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PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari (second from left) and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah (first from right) attend the Sindh Investment Conference in Dubai on Tuesday. — Photo by author
PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari (second from left) and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah (first from right) attend the Sindh Investment Conference in Dubai on Tuesday. — Photo by author
PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari (third from left) stands beside UAE Minister for Tolerance and Coexistence Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan (fourth from left) during the signing of an agreement at the Sindh Investment Conference in Dubai. — DawnNewsTV
PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari (third from left) stands beside UAE Minister for Tolerance and Coexistence Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan (fourth from left) during the signing of an agreement at the Sindh Investment Conference in Dubai. — DawnNewsTV

The PPP-led Sindh government signed six memoranda of understanding (MoU) with various investors for multiple projects in different fields and areas at the Sindh Investment Conference in Dubai on Tuesday.

According to a statement on the PPP's Twitter, the projects include initiatives for energy, water, sports and electricity generation from waste.

PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and other PPP leaders, including Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, also attended the ceremony and the agreements were signed in the presence of the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) minister for tolerance and coexistence, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan.

Speaking on the occasion, Bilawal said, "We are particularly proud of the six MoUs signed before you today, which shows that this conference in the UAE has already been productive".

Sharing details about the MoUs, he told participants of the conference that one of the agreements was for setting up a desalination plant in Karachi.

"All of you must be aware that Karachi is facing huge water shortages and this is just the start in what we are hoping will be a lot more engagement with the private sector to work with us, to invest with us and to partner with the Sindh government to ensure that we can provide water to the people of the province, and the people in our [provincial] capital," Bilawal added.

This, he said, was a "big step" towards the initiative of ensuring the provision of water to Karachiites.

Bilawal further stated that the PPP had promised, and it was in its manifesto, to start water desalination in Sindh and the UAE had expertise in the area.

He said another MoU was signed for a waste-to-energy project, as garbage remained a big issue in Pakistan, especially in Karachi.

"The MoU signed today for the waste-to-energy [project] will go a long way in our quest for a greener Sindh and greener Pakistan and will add to our diverse energy mix," he said.

The PPP chairperson said an agreement was also signed for funding small start-ups and small-and-medium enterprises.

"We believe in supporting businesses, particularly small-and-medium enterprises, so this is also a positive development."

Bilawal said there had been complaints by the business community abroad and Pakistanis in the UAE, who were very keen to invest in Pakistan.

"But they get stuck in all the red tape ... and all the layers of the government through which they have to interact [for making an investment]," Bilawal said, adding that an agreement had also been signed to ensure one-window operations for the Pakistani community in the UAE, who wished to invest in their home country.

"Going forward, they will not face complication and with this one-window access, they will invest and do business in the province with ease."

He announced that a football academy would be built in Karachi under one of the agreements inked on the day.

"Those of you who frequently visit Karachi know that this (football) is one of the most popular sports among the young people in the province, particularly of those in Lyari ... I am so pleased that we are bringing positive activities for the youth of Karachi," he said.

Bilawal said the final MoU was signed for e-governance, "furthering the government of Sindh's commitment to paperless governance".

The initiative, he said, would "contribute to transparency and help tackle corruption".

"It is indeed a very positive development that modern technology is being included in the workings of the government."

Referring to all six agreements, Bilawal concluded his speech, saying that he believed "this is just the start of what should be a long-lasting relationship between the business community and the government of Sindh."

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