KARACHI: A senior official in the Sindh government on Monday said the provincial administration was weighing the prospects of investment coming Sindh’s way and was aware of the fact that it had to develop its cities on modern lines to attract investment.

“The Sindh government has great plans for future, which will soon be tangible,” said Naheed Memon, chairperson of the Sindh Board of Investment (SBI), while delivering a lecture at the Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) on investment opportunities in Sindh.

She said there were no four- or five-star hotels in Hyderabad, Sukkur and Larkana. Developing resorts in smaller cities and tourist towns was the need of the hour for which the provincial government was making plans.

“There should be some amusement parks in Hyderabad and other cities of Sindh,” she said.

Ms Memon added that resorts would be set up at Keenjhar and Haleji lakes soon.

She said Sindh had been the hub of international business and trade in the past due to its port.

Therefore, she added, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and One Belt One Road schemes would usher in the revival of the Silk Route that would connect Pakistan and China to the world market.

The SBI chairperson further said Pakistan was a country with consumer-based economy where numerous business opportunities were available for small businesses, trades and agriculture sectors, which must be availed by the people of Sindh.

“Today, the only way of survival is to get younger generation of Pakistan involved in domestic trade and business.”

She said mega projects such as CPEC would increase connectivity in the country and resolve problems of energy, communication and transportation.

She said technological developments had changed the shape of businesses and redesigned industries.

“We are living in a changed world, which poses the fundamental question as to how a person can capitalise on the opportunities available to him locally, regionally and internationally.”

Ms Memon said Pakistan needed economic security and prosperity.

She added that the Sindh Enterprise Development Fund (SEDF) encouraged small businesses and trades in Sindh for which the fund provided financial support for around 30 agro-based businesses.

“Those who want to start their own business should contact the SEDF. They will be provided with full support.”

The senior official said about 60 per cent of fruits got damaged in Sindh due to poor knowledge of packaging and storage system.

“This huge wealth could be saved through positive interventions and investment for which we are encouraging people and industries.”

Dr Mohammad Ali Shaikh, Vice Chancellor SMIU, said some of the best opportunities were available in business and trade sectors in the country, therefore, young generation should not just look towards public or private jobs.

Tracing the history of SMIU, he said before establishment of the SMI on the plot where it existed today, the place was serving as Qafila Serai where caravans of traders from Afghanistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Balochistan and Iran would stay.

“After the advent of railways from Karachi to Kotri in the initial years of the British Raj, the importance of Qafila Serai came to an end and then Khan Bahadur Hassanally Effendi purchased the plot from Karachi Municipality to establish Sindh Madressah”.

Earlier, Naheed Memon visited the university’s Jinnah Museum and praised the historic articles preserved there.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2017