KARACHI, July 5: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said that with continued inflow of investment, economy of Sindh is improving and in IT sector alone, projects worth 500 million dollars are in the pipeline.

He was speaking at a press conference soon after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Sindh Government and the E-Storage of Japan at Chief Minister House here on Wednesday.

The MoU was signed by Advisor on IT and Environment Noman Saigal on behalf of the Sindh Government and by Hirono Takahashi, President, E- Storage, Japan.

Under the MoU, the E-Storage Network, Japan, will search and attract investment from Japan for Sindh and also undertake viable projects in IT, Telecom sectors, as well as establishment of call centres.

Dr Rahim said that the Sindh government is fully encouraging investors and referred to grant of land near Safari Park to world-renowned Metro group of Germany which will undertake export of agro-based products, fish etc.

The Sindh government, he pointed out, has resolved the issue of grant of land to foreign investors and said now prospective investors are provided land at a price 25 per cent less than market value.

He said to overcome water problem, the Sindh government has introduced sprinkle system and one such system has been installed at Super Highway which he would inspect personally.

He said that sprinkle system would be installed with 80 per cent Sindh government finances and 20 per cent by growers. He said the system would enable the use of only 1/8th quantity of water now being used for irrigation and would, thus, help overcome water shortage in Sindh.

Accompanied by his Advisor on IT, Noman Saigal, at the press conference, the Chief Minister informed about installation of Brazilian Ethenolol plant in Karachi which would produce environment friendly fuel.

Replying a question, Dr Arbab acknowledged power shortage in Karachi and said that hydel power generation is the cheapest system . He said if hydel-based power generation plants had been installed earlier, the province would not faced power shortage today.

He told a questioner that installation of coal-fired power plants suffered delay because the price for the power generated was not fixed when the Chinese wanted to supply at 5 cents. He said if the price issue had been settled at that time, the plant would have come up on ground today.

He told a questioner that Sindh's interests would be fully protected at the CCI meeting whenever it takes place. He said as Chief Minister it is his responsibility to see protection of interests of his province.

To a question about meetings between Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto in London, he described it meetings of frustrated souls. He said they are the ones who used to brand each other as “security risk” for the country.

He referred to a photograph appearing in the press showing Nawaz Sharif patting Benazir's daughter Asifa and said they were showing love for each other only to come back into power.

He said if anyone of them is offered power, they would forget each other.

When sought his comments on opposition's anti-government campaign, the Chief Minister said that people have become fed up of their politics and they are fully satisfied with our performance.

To another question, Dr Arbab said that Sehwan Barrage would certainly be built if found in Sindh's advantage.

On this occasion, Managing Director of Metro Cash and Carry Shop informed the Chief Minister that their company's outlets are doing business in 28 countries of the world. He said their company is interested in fruit and food products.

He informed that Metro would establish four Cash and Carry Wholesale distribution centres at four locations in Karachi with an investment of 90 million dollars which would help produce vast employment opportunities while accessible markets would be available to growers and fishermen for their products.

The Punjab Industries Minister Mohammed Ajmal Cheema, Sindh Chief Secretary Fzlur Rehman were also present on the ooccasion.—APP