KARACHI, Dec 28: A US-based multinational company has shown its interest in investing some $150 million in the city by setting up at least eight vegetable and fish markets and a modern slaughterhouse.

This was told by the chairman of the ICI Global Economy Group, Ali Nawaz Shaikh, to City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal at a meeting at the latter’s office on Thursday.

In a presentation, Mr Shaikh said his company was running that business in various countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Korea and Malaysia. He said the company was willing to set up at least eight vegetable and fish markets in Karachi with an investment of $150 million. Such facilities would provide hygienic and fresh packed vegetables and meat to the citizens as well as it would also market such products to other bazaars and shops across the city.

According to a CDGK spokesman, the firm’s chief unveiled its plans to establish its own cold storage for which it would import cold storage vehicles.

“The company, ICI Global Economy Group, has a vast experience of running such business not in many countries of Asia but also around the world. We hope this business will run successfully in Karachi,” the CDGK spokesman quoted Mr Shaikh as saying.

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal said the city government was taking steps to provide maximum facilities to investors as the megalopolis had vast opportunities for investment in various sectors.

“The city government during the last one year has launched a number of mega development projects to improve its infrastructure that has also benefited our citizens. We are striving to provide maximum civic facilities to the people and bring positive change in their lives”, he added.

Mr Kamal said at present Karachi had two slaughterhouses while a portion of land had also been allocated along the Northern Bypass to establish a modern abattoir to cater to the growing need of the city.

“The city government will welcome the investors in this sector and extend all sort of cooperation in this regard,” he said.

Nazim Mustafa Kamal instructed the EDO of Master Plan and the EDO of Enterprise and Investment Promotion to prepare a comprehensive report in coordination with the representatives of the company.