KARACHI, March 31: A renowned Saudi firm has shown its keen interest in installing a desalination plant in Karachi and intends to submit its complete and detailed offer with the city government.

A delegation of the firm, led by its representative, Shaikh Mohammed, called on the City Nazim, Naimatullah Khan, on Monday to discuss the project. Naib Nazim Tariq Hasan, DCO Mir Hussain Ali, EDO (Water and Sanitation) Sardar Javed Ashraf, EDO (Investment Promotion) Raisuddin Paracha and other officials were present at the meeting.

The delegation told the officials that their firm had already installed such plants in Jeddah, Makkatul Mukarramah and UAE. It conveyed the firm’s interest in setting up a 100mgd plant in Karachi.

The Nazim suggested that keeping in view the peculiar conditions of the metropolis and fuel prices, it would be pertinent to consider solid waste management before deciding on the fuel for such a plant so that the citizens could get potable water at a reasonably low rate.

He told the delegation that the firm would have to workout power generation using solid waste and producing drinking water through desalination of sea water.

The delegation told him that the firm would shortly submit a report to enable the city government authorities take a decision.

The company experts also had a view of Karachi’s coastal areas to ensure that a pollution-free zone was available to draw water easily for the proposed desalination plant.—APP