Shanghai (TDI): President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday visited Shanghai Electric, where he met the company’s Chairman Wu Lei and later toured its facilities in Shanghai.
The president was accompanied by First Lady Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, according to a statement from the Presidency.
During the meeting, the Shanghai Electric chairman briefed President Zardari on the company’s operations in Pakistan, including projects in Thar coal, nuclear energy, and coal-fired power generation.
President Zardari appreciated the company’s role in addressing Pakistan’s energy needs, creating jobs, and contributing to socio-economic development. Highlighting the strategic importance of the Thar coal project and its coal-gasification potential, he encouraged Shanghai Electric to expand investment into modernizing Pakistan’s transmission and distribution systems.
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The president assured the company’s leadership that any outstanding issues would be resolved in a spirit of mutual cooperation. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Chinese personnel working in the country. In turn, the company’s CEO thanked the Government of Pakistan for providing protective arrangements for its workforce.
The visit also included a presentation on Shanghai Electric’s history and achievements. Established in 1902, the company has grown into one of China’s premier equipment manufacturers, recognized globally for innovations in energy and industrial technologies.
On the occasion, President Zardari witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a coal gasification plant in Thar, Sindh. The agreement was signed between MFTC Coal Gasification & Manufacturing (Pvt) Ltd, represented by CEO Shahid Tawawalla, and Sino Sindh Resources (Private) Ltd / Shanghai Electric, represented by CEO Lin Jigen.
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This project marks Pakistan’s first coal-gasification and fertilizer plant based on Thar coal. It is expected to not only contribute to the country’s energy supply but also provide significant support to the agriculture sector.
The signing ceremony was attended by Sindh’s Information and Transport Minister Sharjeel Memon, Planning & Development and Energy Minister Syed Nasir Shah, China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi.
