KARACHI: With huge reserves of coal and plenty of wind to produce electricity, Sindh holds solution to the energy problems of Pakistan in the long run, said provincial finance minister Murad Ali Shah on Friday.

Addressing a session organised by the Pakistan Business Council (PBC) for a 100-member Chinese delegation, Shah said the province already has 310MW of renewable energy, while another 475MW would come online by the end of the year.

He said Chinese companies are playing a major role in developing both coal and wind power plants in the country.

Just last week, the provincial government allotted land to 33 power companies to produce more than 2,000MW of solar and wind power with $4 billion investment. If things go according to the plan, these projects would become operational by end-2017, he said.

Sindh has recently asked the federal government to include the Keti Bandar Port, some 250km off Karachi, in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said. “We will initially use this port to import coal, and later on to export the commodity from Thar coalfields,” he added.

He said the province offers opportunities in the agricultural and industrial sectors, especially in Karachi.

The head of the Chinese delegation, Sha Zukang, in his speech said that Pakistan and China are major trading partners, with the volume of trade reaching an all-time high of $12.299 billion in 2014-15.

He briefed the attendees about the initiative and interest of Chinese businessmen in supporting Pakistan’s economy. He also admired stakeholders in both countries for making efforts towards the CPEC.

PBC Chairman Bashir Ali Muhammad said, “The alliance between China and Pakistan has always been one of our strengths. This relationship covers many different areas, including industry, economics, energy, trade and investment, to name a few.”

The relationship between the two countries, he said, would not only help Pakistan build roads, railway and energy projects, but it would also create jobs and spur the country’s economic growth.

On the occasion, business-to-business meetings were held and the Chinese investors were briefed about investment opportunities and potential of various sectors of the economy.

Brief presentations were made by Additional Chief Secretary for Planning and Development Sindh Ejaz Ali Khan, Secretary for Energy Wasif Abbas and Sindh Board of Investment DG Iftikhar Ali Shalwani.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2016