From Zeeshan Mirza
KARACHI: Sindh’s minister for Information and Transport Sharjeel Memon on Monday met with a Turkish company, Albayark’s, Director Jamil Shin Ojak.
The meeting was held to discuss the procurement of European standard buses as part of Karachi’s public transport system.
Memon presented the director with an opportunity to invest in Karachi’s public transportation, saying that the provincial capital offers lucrative business opportunities.
The minister revealed that the Sindh Transport Department has planned to bring more than 7,000 buses to the city. He added that Karachi’s transport system consisting of the Red Line, Orange Line and Yellow Line is planned under the modern Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. In addition to investment in transport, the provincial minister also invited Ojak to set up a manufacturing plant in the Dhabeji Free Economic Zone. “There is no tax on import of manufacturing plant machinery in Dhabeji Economic Zone and will not be levied for ten years,” Memon added.
He also expressed that the Sindh government is open to collaborating with Albayark on other options including a public-private partnership. He also stated that the provincial government is willing to provide subsidies to public transport projects.
Sharjeel Memon underscored the close diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Turkey and expressed his province’s enthusiasm to receive investments from Turkey.
“During my recent visit to Turkey, I met with the Turkish Deputy Minister of Transport,” the minister recounted adding that he had invited his Turkish counterpart to invest in Sindh’s public transport.
“We are proud to work in Pakistan,” Jamil Shin Ojak stated adding that his company operates the metro bus system in Lahore and Islamabad.
The Turkish visitor expressed his desire to expand business to Karachi as it is the largest city in Pakistan.
