KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has met top Chinese companies in Beijing and invited them to invest in Karachi’s transport system, highlighting the need for early completion of the much-awaited Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project.

The chief minister, along with Sindh ministers Sharjeel Memon and Nasir Shah, was accompanying President Asif Ali Zardari on his five-day official visit to China.

A CM House spokesperson said that Mr Shah on Wednesday met chief executives of major Chinese companies in Beijing and discussed important infrastructure projects such as KCR and bus rapid transit (BRT) system.

He said that the collaboration was aimed at modernising the city urban transport system.

CM holds talks with top firms during China visit

He said that the chief minister told the Chinese companies that the work on various BRT lines was in progress while two of them — Green Line and Orange Line — were already operational.

The project would become more fruitful when the KCR, the main feeder of the BRTs, would be made operational, he added.

The chief minister told the Chinese companies that the KCR project had been pending approval from the Chinese authorities since 2016.

The press statement issued from CM House said that in a significant step towards economic cooperation, the delegation comprising Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Energy Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi and others met top executives of Chinese companies and discussed major infrastructure and energy projects “paving the way for enhanced bilateral partnerships”.

The Chinese companies included Norinco, Beiben Trucks, China North Vehicle Company, and Jiangsu Trade Electro-Mechanical.

The chief minister discussed with Chinese companies several key projects designed to boost Sindh and Pakistan’s economic growth.

“Partnerships were explored to further develop Thar Coal resources and expand Pakistan’s energy capacity.”

The chief minister informed the Chinese companies that projects like electricity, coal to gas, coal to diesel and coal to urea projects, could be developed.

The chief minister discussed the introduction of electric buses and taxis to promote cleaner and efficient public transport.

He expressed strong optimism about the potential of these collaborations, saying: “These projects represent not only significant progress for Sindh, but also a crucial contribution to Pakistan’s national development agenda. The Karachi Circular Railway, Thar Coal development, and the adoption of modern electric transport will dramatically enhance public services and stimulate economic activity.”

He emphasised the importance of leveraging China’s technological expertise to accelerate the province’s development and create numerous job opportunities.

These partnerships, he concluded, would lead to multiple joint ventures, fostering sustained economic and industrial growth for both Sindh and Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon met a Chinese EV bus manufacturer in Beijing and invited them to invest in the province.

According to a statement issued here, during his visit to the Chinese capital, he formally invited the Chinese company to establish an EV bus manufacturing plant in Karachi.

Energy and Planning & Development Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah was also present at the meeting.

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2025