Kuwaiti company to invest in solar and water schemes, cattle breeding in Pakistan’s Sindh

Pakistan’s Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah (center right), meets the delegation of Enertech led by its CEO, Abdullah Al Mutairi (center left), at CM House, Sindh, on February 3, 2021. (Photo courtesy: Chief Minister House, Sindh)
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Updated 04 February 2021
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Kuwaiti company to invest in solar and water schemes, cattle breeding in Pakistan’s Sindh

  • Sindh chief minister meets delegation led by CEO of Kuwaiti state-owned firm EnerTech
  • Company CEO says ready to make direct investments and work on a public-private partnership basis

KARACHI: The CEO of Kuwaiti state-owned firm EnerTech said on Wednesday the firm wanted to invest in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province, especially in the areas of water distribution, solar systems, and cattle breeding for the export of halal meat.
He said this while leading a delegation to meet Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, and other energy-related senior Pakistani officials. 
EnerTech is a fully-owned subsidiary of Kuwait’s National Technology Enterprises Company (NTEC).
“Established in 2012, EnerTech’s mission is to initiate its own development projects and participate in projects within the energy, clean technology, recycling, water, waste management and renewable energy sectors,” the company said on its website.
The visiting delegation told the chief minister the firm was interested in working with the provincial government in the water sector.
“Our company would make direct investment and where necessary they would work on PPP [public-private partnership] mode,” CEO Abdullah Al Mutairi was quoted as saying in a statement from the Sindh CM’s office. 
Mutairi thanked the chief minister for giving his company an opportunity to work in Sindh and said his firm was already working in the southwestern Balochistan province. 
Shah said there were multiple opportunities for investment in the Thar desert region, inviting the delegation to visit the area.
He said his government had a comprehensive plan to boost the agriculture sector in the province by installing solar tube wells and introducing calf breeding for export.
“This initiative would be made with the support of the private sector or on a public-private partnership basis,” the CM said, adding that his government was launching a water scheme to provide tap water in different districts of Karachi and calling on the Kuwaiti company to launch a water distribution system in the city.
Currently, much of Karachi’s water needs are met either by the informal private sector or controlled by organized crime.
Shah said the provincial agriculture department had vast cattle farming centers and he would welcome EnerTech to work with the agriculture department to promote and rear new calf breeds for the export of halal meat. 
He also invited the Kuwaiti company to become involved in a project to install solar tube wells in the province.


Pakistan explores ferry shipping to boost trade with Yemen, regional markets

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Pakistan explores ferry shipping to boost trade with Yemen, regional markets

  • Pakistan commerce minister meets Yemeni envoy to discuss enhancing trade cooperation
  • Yemeni ambassador calls for reviving bilateral agreements, strengthening trade mechanisms

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan said on Friday that his ministry is exploring the possibility of introducing ferry-based shipping services with Yemen to cut freight costs and boost bilateral, regional trade. 

Pakistan has been attempting to enhance its ferry-based services with Middle Eastern countries in recent months. Islamabad granted its first-ever ferry service license to an international operator, Sea Keepers, for routes connecting Pakistan with Iran and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in August. Last month, Pakistan’s federal cabinet approved a ferry service to Oman from the southwestern port of Gwadar to boost trade and tourism.

Khan met Yemen’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Mohammed Motahar Alashabi, in Islamabad on Friday where both sides discussed enhancing trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

“Jam Kamal highlighted the importance of creating efficient, low-cost logistics channels for small and medium enterprises and informed H.E. Alashabi that the ministry is examining the introduction of ferry-based small shipping services to reduce freight costs and improve turnaround time for regional trade,” the commerce ministry said. 

“Both sides expressed confidence that sustained dialogue, improved logistics, and revival of formal cooperation mechanisms will help unlock new opportunities for trade and investment between Pakistan and Yemen.”

Alashabi expressed Yemen’s desire to expand commercial engagement with Pakistan, the commerce ministry said, stressing that Yemen continues to regard Islamabad as a “trusted partner” despite logistical and regional challenges in recent years.

He said nearly 300 Yemeni students are studying in Pakistan, highlighting strong people-to-people ties and confidence in Pakistan’s educational institutions. He stressed the need to revive bilateral agreements and strengthen mechanisms to boost trade between the nations. 

Kamal said Pakistan placed a lot of emphasis on expanding trade with regional and nearby markets, adding that Pakistan’s growing entrepreneurial and SME sectors could benefit from improved access to close-proximity markets such as Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Oman.