Mr Syed Qaim Ali Shah CM of Sindh has held talks with Mr Tigran Karakhanov minister for foreign economic relations of Moscow Region in Moscow and invited Russian investment in coal, wind energy, oil, gas and agriculture sector.

Mr Shah informed that Pakistan had a great potential for investment and Thar Desert in Sindh has 175 billion tonnes of lignite coal, which was among the best in the world. Government intends to generate energy from this coal to cope with the energy crisis faced by government.

He said that in this regard Russian corporation will be very helpful. Sindh was basically an agricultural economy and produces one of the best qualities of cotton, wheat and rice. We are exporting cotton and wheat to the world. Sindh produces the best quality of fruits such as mango, date and all tropical fruits and government wants to get benefit of Russian agriculture technology to enhance the production with lesser water. He sought Russian help in dairy farming and live stock sectors.

Mr Muhammad Zubair Motiwala chairman Sindh Board of Investment said that Russian investors have a good opportunity to invest as the Pakistan government guarantees to purchase all the energy produced by these plants. We offer 20% rate of return on foreign investment in coal projects and investors from Russia have very good opportunity to invest in coal mining sector.

Mr Motiwala said at present companies from UK, Australia, China and Pakistan were working in different blocks of Thar coal field. Russian government was willing to improve bilateral and economic relation with Pakistan. We would take all possible measure to increase the volume of trade and investment between the two countries.

(Sourced from www.dailytimes.com.pk)