KARACHI, July 23: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has said that six memorandums of understanding (MoUs) signed between Scottish companies, universities and the Sindh government will bring $2 billion investment to the province, which will greatly benefit the people of Sindh.

Speaking at a press conference at the Governor’s House on Monday afternoon, the governor said that four of the six MoUs were signed between Scottish business groups, the Sindh government and the Port Qasim Authority, the Karachi Port Trust, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and the Karachi Water Sewerage Board.

The MoUs pertained to water desalination, freshwater supply and waste management while two contracts were signed between the Engineering University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, and the NED University and the Mehran Engineering University, Jamshoro.

The contracts will enable the universities in faculties exchange and research programmes.

Briefing the media, the governor, who led the delegation of federal and provincial ministers, including Babar Ghauri, Pir Mazharul Haq, Raza Haroon, Faisal Sabzwari, Dr Saghir Ahmad, Adil Siddiqui and Karachi administrator Muhammad Hussain Sayyed, Commissioner Roshan Sheikh on a 10-day UK visit, described these contracts as a breakthrough.

He said that in the given situation when the perception of Pakistan abroad was not favourable due to ongoing war against terror and internal situation, fetching the investment of $2 billion was a big achievement.

He said that under four contracts a desalination plant would be installed to provide 100 million gallons freshwater per day.

Port and Shipping Minister Babur Ghauri said that fetching the investment of $2 billion in present circumstances augured well for the country as it would bring more foreign investment.

Senior Minister Pir Mazharul Haq, who represented the chief minister in the delegation, said biggest problem at present in Pakistan was energy crisis and Sind’s role had remained positive.

He said that the visit to Scotland was quite informative as Scotland was far ahead than other countries in renewal energy.

He said besides wind turbine Scotland was also producing energy from the sea.

He said that the MoUs with the engineering university would help in promotion of renewal energy discipline at the NED and the Mehran universities.

Information Technology Minister Raza Haroon said the credit for this breakthrough of fetching investment went to the leadership of the coalition government, President Asif Ali Zardari and MQM chief Altaf Hussain.

He said through the visit efforts were made to remove a negative impression of Pakistan and to persuade the Pakistanis based in the UK to invest in the country of their origin.

Governor Ibad also delivered a keynote address with Baroness Sayeeda Warsi and International Trade Director in Yorkshire Mark Robson at the “roundtable programme” at Bradford on the subject “Doing business and investment in Pakistan” which was organised to highlight potential trade and investment opportunities between Pakistan and the UK.

Besides a large number of Pakistanis, High Commissioner of Pakistan to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan also present at the function.