With the potential of becoming powerhouse for the region, Sindh has 185 billion tons of coal reserves in Thar, Badin, Sonda and Lakhra. The Federal and Provincial Governments are placing a very high priority to its development and Thar Coal field is now effectively connected with the road network of the country.
Thar Coal Resources are estimated of having potential of producing 100,000 megawatt of energy for 300 years. The work on power transmission and water supply system is being carried out on war footings.
COAL PROJECTS The Government of Sindh has successfully developed model of Joint Venture on Thar Coal by forming Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company. The company is fast completing its work on bankable feasibility study in Thar Block II for seeking international financing.
The mining facility with an investment of US $1.0 billion is planned with a capacity of producing 18 million tons of coal per annum to provide fuel for around 3000 MW. Engro Corp is planning to install 1200 MW of power generation facility while WAPDA has planned another 1200 MW. These will require an estimated investment of US $4.4 billion.
M/s Oracle Mining of UK is near completion of its bankable feasibility study in Thar Block VI and is expected to go for financial close after that. The project will have the capacity to produce 300 MW of electricity and will require investment of around US $700 million.
M/s Cougar Energy of Australia has proposed to develop underground coal gasification plant in Block III of Thar with capacity to generate 600 MW. Dr Samar Mubarak, the renowned scientist, is working with Government of Sindh for a pilot project on Underground coal Gasification with power generation capacity of 100 MW.
M/s. Al Abbas Power Generation Company is working on the feasibility of developing coal mining and power generation project of 300 MW in Badin Coalfield with an estimated cost of US $500 million. M/s CMS of China is working in Sonda Coalfield on feasibility for coal mining and power generation of 300 MW.
RENEWABLE ENERGY Wind corridor of Sindh is 60 km wide from Gharo till Keti Bandar and 180 km long up to Hyderabad with a potential of 50,000 ME. The annual radiation of 3000 hrs. in Sindh has an endless potential for Solar energy.
1. Azur Solar of Germany is working with Sindh Board of Investment to develop a 50 MW solar Power project.
2. Iran-Pak Power, a joint venture between Iran's Sunir Co and Pakistan's Planet Group, proposed to be funded by Iranian Project assistance, is working closely with SBI on their project for 50 MW. Of Wind Energy.
3. M/s Zorlu Energy of Turkey is working on a 50 MW wind power plant worth $110 million in Jhimpir, a part of which is already functional and supplying power to the national grid.
4. Green Power Pvt Limited is planning to invest $125 million in a 50 MW Wind Power Project.
5. Gul Ahmed, a group known for its textile processing facilities, has made investments in energy sector and is moving fast towards completion of a 50 MW Wind Energy facility near Jhimpir. Agro-processing, Dairy, Livestock and Fisheries - the gaps and the opportunities.
Keeping its significance in production of Cotton, Rice and Sugarcane, Sindh's fertile land produce large quantities of delicious fruits; prime quality Dates in Khairpur; delicious fruits; prime quality Dates in Khairpur; delicious Sindhri Mangoes; the Red Chillies of Kunri; and a host of tropical fruits.
The gap between the production volumes and the capacity to process these crops provides many opportunities for large, medium and small scale investments in agro-processing sector. Pakistan ranks as 5th largest milk producer, with 38.69 billion litres produced annually out of which only a small fraction is processed.
The potential of Halal Meat exports and the ever rising gap between the demand and production of meat, makes Sindh's livestock sector a very lucrative sector a very lucrative proposition. Engro Food assessing the potential of dairy sector of Sindh, took the decision of investing in it and in a short period became the second largest producer of packed milk and other dairy items.
PK livestock established a pioneering plant in meat processing in Landhi with an investment of 1.5 billion rupees, in joint venture with Australian partners. Now its exports exceed US $60 million annually. 350 kms of coastal line with thick mangrove plantations is an ideal site for development of aquaculture. The continuous growth in Inland Freshwater fisheries has not been matched by processing facilities making it a potential area for investment.
For small and medium enterprise working in argo-processing, dairy, livestock and fisheries sectors, the Sindh Development Fund has been established. It provides assistance to investors in these sectors by subsidising their interest charges.
With an aim to streamline these initiatives with supporting infrastructure, Sindh Board of Investment has pans to develop Fisheries Special Economic Zone on the coat of Thatta and Livestock Special Economic Zone near Bhambhore. These zones will have common facilities and technical support for operation of private farms.
TOURISM SECTOR Tourism sector holds a promise of a bright future with Karachi's beaches, cultural and historical heritage of Sindh and geographical diversity of its deserts and hill stations. Gorakh Hill Resort Project envisages a tourist resort at 5700 feet above sea level with all facilities over an area of 2500 acres.
An Eco-tourist resort at Keenjhar Lake resort over an area of 750 acres is another project which offers opportunities for private investment. Investment in Sindh - positioning business on the path of growth. The investment opportunities have not gone unnoticed.
The companies having the feel of its potential are consistent in their commitment with the future of Sindh. Some are gaining instant successes while others are positioning their companies at the growth path of the future. Engro is nearing completion of US $1 billion investment making its urea production facility the largest such plant in the world.
It has successfully launched its foods wing making investment in the dairy sector. In petrochemical sector also, Engro has made large investments and is also working vigorously on its Thar Coal joint venture with the Government of Sindh. Jahangir Siddiqui Group has made investments in a broad portfolio of Banking, Finance, Aviation, Fertiliser, Technology, Oil && Gas and Real Estate sectors.
Al Tuwairqui Steel of Saudi Arabia is investing almost 1.0 billion US dollars on a steel making plant at Port Qasim. Lotte Group of South Korea has invested 800 million US dollar in a PTA plant in Karachi and is planning to make more investments in energy, food, tourism and other sectors.
LNG terminal planned at Port Qasim will bring another US $1 billion of investment. Similarly the Italian fashion apparels producers M/s Maxco, Proctor & Gamble and Coca Cola are all set to go into sizeable expansions of their production facilities in Sindh. The above is narration of only a few out of countless investment initiatives in private sector which show the investor's confidence in the economic future of the province.
SINDH BOARD OF INVESTMENT The government of Sindh established Sindh Board of Investment as a one-window facility for the investors. SBI is fast developing its role to suit the dynamics of a wide economic spectrum. While facilitating mega projects, SBI is also packaging investment opportunities for the medium and small investors. The facilitation extends to assistance for feasibility studies and business research.
SBI has a very strong conviction in the future of Sindh as a regional economic hub. It believes that Sind's immense economic potential requires sustainable public-private collaboration and sees for it a pivotal role in developing such a relationship. SBI aims to bring public objectives close to private aspirations.
PARTNERSHIP WITH PRIVATE SECTOR Government of Sindh has successfully developed models of Joint Ventures and Public Private Partnerships; in Thar Coal by forming Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company; and in road project of Hyderabad-Mirpukahs Dual Carriage Way with M/s Doekjae, a Korean Company.
With passing of the Public Private Partnership Act, the Sindh Assembly ahs opened up the way to greater public private collaboration bringing synergies to Sindh's economy. Sindh Development Fund is a unique initiative of the Sindh Government which takes away the KIBOR (interest charges) and brings viability to agro-based industrial and technological projects in private sector.
INVESTMENT IN HUMAN RESOURCE SBI has a futuristic vision for the improvement of quality of life for the people of Sindh and for providing quality human resource to its economy. Education City is designed to provide land and infrastructure for expansion of facilities for higher education. The best universities of the country have already initiated planning of their mega projects. The foreign institutions are also showing their interest to have their presence in the Education City.
SINDH - THE DESTINATION For times to come, with its immense wealth of natural resources and its unique strategic location of being the gateway to the Middle East, China and Central Asia, Sindh will continue to be the most attractive destination for the investors.
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