President Zardari Invites Shanghai Electric to Expand Investment, Assures Resolution of Outstanding Issues

President Asif Ali Zardari has urged Shanghai Electric to expand its investment in Pakistan’s power sector, particularly in modernizing the country’s transmission and distribution network. The president extended the invitation during a meeting with Shanghai Electric Chairman Wu Lei at the company’s headquarters in Shanghai on Monday. He was accompanied by Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and Senator Saleem Mandviwalla. Wu Lei briefed the president on Shanghai Electric’s ongoing projects in Pakistan, including ventures in Thar coal, nuclear energy, and coal-fired power plants. President Zardari expressed appreciation for the company’s contribution to meeting Pakistan’s energy needs, creating jobs, and supporting socio-economic development. He underscored the potential of the Thar coal project for coal gasification and invited further investment in the sector. Highlighting investor concerns, President Zardari assured Shanghai Electric that any outstanding issues between the company and Pakistan would be resolved amicably and in a spirit of cooperation. The company’s chief executive acknowledged the security arrangements for its staff in Pakistan, while the president reaffirmed his government’s commitment to ensuring a safe environment for Chinese workers. During the visit, Zardari also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for a coal gasification and fertilizer project in Thar, Sindh. The MoU was signed between MFTC Coal Gasification & Manufacturing (Pvt) Ltd and Sino Sindh Resources (Pvt) Ltd/Shanghai Electric. This will be the first coal gasification plant based on Thar coal, designed to meet energy needs and support agricultural development. Later in the day, President Zardari visited the memorial of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Shanghai, where he praised the preservation of the historic site and said it offered valuable insights into China’s early political struggles.