Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport, and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon, visited the office of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) in Karachi, where he was warmly welcomed by KATI President Ikram Rajput, Senior Vice President Zahid Hameed, Junaid Naqi, Khalid Tawab, Zubair Chhaya, Faraz-ur-Rehman, and other officials. Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh, Faraz Abid Lakhani, was also present. The meeting focused on Sindh’s industrial growth, business environment improvements, infrastructure issues, transport facilities, and challenges faced by industrial zones.
In his address, Sharjeel Memon said that the Sindh government, under the Pakistan Peoples Party, has delivered significant progress in various sectors, acknowledging that the country’s economic wheel runs through the efforts of industrialists. He emphasized that both federal and provincial governments are moving in the right direction. He noted that last year, due to IMF restrictions, farmers could not be paid support prices, but on PPP’s demand, the federal government fixed the wheat support price. He recalled that during President Asif Ali Zardari’s tenure, Pakistan exported wheat for the first time.
He shared that during President Zardari’s recent visit to China, he assured major industrialists that the government would provide land free of cost to investors willing to set up industries in Sindh. He stated that this policy reflects the true direction of successful investment strategies. He also highlighted that the Khairpur Economic Zone recently received an international award, showcasing global recognition of Sindh’s development initiatives.
Speaking on healthcare, Memon said the Sindh government has achieved major milestones in public service. He mentioned that advanced CyberKnife cancer treatment, which costs millions globally, is being provided free of cost in Karachi. NICVD has broken world records in heart surgeries, and he personally experienced their non-discriminatory service when he visited at 4 a.m. due to chest pain and waited in line like any other patient.
He noted that NICVD container units have been set up in different areas to provide quick and free treatment for heart patients, while free kidney and lung treatments are offered at Gambat. He emphasized that Sindh’s healthcare facilities stand out compared to other provinces.
On industrial development, he said that the Dhabeji Economic Zone had not received the attention it deserved, even though it is part of the CPEC corridor and holds strong interest for Chinese investors. He added that issues in the BRT Red Line project have been resolved through the grievance board, with an additional Rs 2 billion allocated to push the project forward.
Memon announced that the Yellow Line BRT will cover a 21-kilometer track and that KATI representatives will be formally included to ensure transparency and consultation. He said Karachi’s rapidly growing population poses a major challenge, but the government is preparing modern transport solutions for the future. The PPP government has already launched the country’s first eco-friendly EV Pink Bus, and new buses, including double-deckers, will arrive next month.
He further shared that women working in industries will receive free pink scooters to empower them. He also defended the Benazir Income Support Program as the most effective relief program for low-income citizens. He highlighted that the world’s largest housing scheme, with 800,000 homes for flood victims, is underway in Sindh.
Sharjeel Inam Memon said that since 1985, a systematic conspiracy had been carried out against Sindh to destabilize the province through artificial unrest to discourage investment. However, today, Sindh is progressing. He described taxpayers as a national asset and assured industrialists that their issues would be prioritized. Concluding his speech, he said that they are not rulers but public servants, which is the core philosophy behind the PPP’s development vision.
