KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has described the signing of landmark agreements for Education City as a “historic milestone” for the province and the country, paving the way for the establishment of Pakistan’s largest Special Technology Zone (STZ), along with major foreign investments in renewable energy and energy storage solutions.

The signing ceremony, held at the CM House, was attended by Energy Minister Syed Nasir Shah, Chairman Education City Board Dr Asim Hussain, SACM Syed Qasim Naveed, PSCM Agha Wasif, Chairman STZ Authority Azfar Manzoor, Secretary Investment Khurram Shahzad, Project Director Education City Abrar Ahmad, Mr Jo Hanns Dieter Trutschler, Chairman Board/ Verwaltungsratspräsident meeco AG/ meeco Holding, Mr Axel Kaiser and others.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said the 435-acre STZ at Education City, Karachi, would be the first of its kind under the Sindh government, designed to become a hub of innovation, entrepreneurship and knowledge-driven economic growth.

The first agreement was signed between the Education City Project and the STZA, Cabinet Division, Government of Pakistan. Under this Zone Development Agreement, the project will progress under a transparent framework, covering master planning, financing, construction, operations and governance. The initiative will also digitally integrate Education City with STZA’s central e-portal to streamline licensing, regulatory approvals and investor facilitation.

MoU signed for project which is expected to create over 1,000 jobs, strengthen country’s role in global clean energy supply chains

The second set of agreements brought on board global clean energy leader meeco AG of Switzerland as a strategic partner. The meeco will establish a renewable energy plant based on wind, solar and battery storage technologies to power Education City. Electricity will be supplied at $0.11/kWh for the first ten years — competitive with existing providers — along with a 4 per cent royalty for Education City. The tariff will decline after the first decade, making the project highly sustainable and investor-friendly.

In addition, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the meeco to establish a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for advanced energy storage solutions within the Education City STZ. Backed by an estimated 100 million in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), the facility will produce energy storage modules for domestic use and for export to international markets.

The project is expected to generate over 1,000 direct and indirect jobs, foster technology transfer, and strengthen Pakistan’s role in the global clean energy supply chain.

Calling Education City “a vision for Pakistan’s future,” the chief minister said the integration of education, technology, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing would create an ecosystem driving sustainable growth and global competitiveness.

He credited PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s leadership for making innovation and inclusion central to Sindh’s development agenda.

“I want Education City to be not just the pride of Sindh but a shining example of Pakistan’s progress in the world,” the CM concluded, thanking STZA, meeco AG and all stakeholders for their partnership.

Published in Dawn, August 22th, 2025