Sindh is blessed to have the potential of attractive business and investment opportunities. Its competitive advantage rests on its strategic location. The existence of major seaports, extensive industrial infrastructure, 350 km long coastline, and the prospects to generate renewable energy are just a few of the characteristics that make the province an ideal place for investment. In addition, the province is host to abundant fertile land, plenty of agricultural, natural and mineral resources, an improving educational system, a young and burgeoning workforce, and a politically strong and stable government. All these elements have given the impetus and incentives for some of the world's leading multinational corporations to set up a base in Sindh.
Karachi - Financial Capital of Pakistan
Karachi being the financial and commercial capital of Pakistan and the capital of Sindh, is a major port and the country's largest metropolis. It contributes the largest share to Pakistan's revenue collection.
- The nucleus of Headquarters of major banks, financial institutions, and business houses
- Pakistan Stock Exchange, the biggest and most liquid exchange, is located in Karachi listing 559 companies with a market capitalization of $ 84 billion as of February 2018
Strategic Location as a Regional Hub
The significant strategic location of the city is beneficial in the following ways:
- Karachi is a potential gateway to the Central Asian Republics
- It also provides strong and long-standing links with China, Middle East, and South Asia
- Offers comprehensive duty-free facilities for investors
The Coastline of 350 Km
The coastline of Sindh is the key in many aspects:
- Sindh has a 350-km long coastline with a large potential for coastal tourism and aqua-culture
- There are two all-weather ports; Karachi Port and Port Qasim, both the ports have a multipurpose terminal, container terminal, liquid chemical terminal, oil terminal, bulk cargo terminals, oil piers, ship repair jetties, and shipyard and engineering facility
Regional Power House of the Future
The regional prospects of Sindh are stated below:
- Sindh is on the path to becoming the major contributor for energy for the country. Sindh is endowed with the potential to generate a healthy mix of energy sources. Sindh's wind corridor has an exploitable potential to generate 50,000 MW of electricity
- Thar Coal - one of the largest coal reserves in the world having a total reserve of 185 billion tons, with the potential for 200,000 MW for 300 years, which can produce enough electricity to power the entire country
- Sindh with high solar radiation, has the significant potential for generating solar energy
- Sindh produces 56% of oil and 71% of gas production of Pakistan
Wide Network of Industrial Estates
The details regarding the network of Industrial Estates in Sindh are enlisted in the following:
- The Government of Sindh established a wide network of Industrial Estates, to promote industrialization and create attractive conditions for industrialists in Sukkur, Benazirabad, Nooriabad, Hyderabad, Kotri and Karachi
- State-of-the-art National Industrial Parks (Bin Qasim and Korangi Industrial Parks)
- Port Qasim Industrial Area - unique in character by having 12,200 acres of land above high water mark for development of industries/commercial complexes
- Karachi Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) - ideally located in close proximity to the Gulf, the Middle East, and African markets, with good prospects for the markets of EEC and USA
Airports
The brief information of airports in Sindh is given under:
- Modern international airport in Karachi, and three domestic airports in Benazirabad, Sukkur , and Larkana
- Airstrips at several locations to ensure accessibility for development and transportation
Large Agricultural, Natural Resources, and Industrial Base
The facts regarding agricultural/natural resources and industrial base of Sindh are highlighted here:
- Sindh is the second largest province of Pakistan based on its contribution to the agricultural production. It contributes 23% of the country's production in agriculture. It has tremendous potential for investment particularly in value addition and foreign trade
- 34% of total Large-Scale Manufacturing (LSM) units are in Sindh
- Year-round crop production of wheat, cotton, rice, sugarcane, fruits , and vegetables
- Huge mineral reserves of coal, granite, silica sand, alum, limestone, salt, gypsum, etc.
Human Resource
The human resource of Sindh is:
- Trained, educated, and competitive
- Internationally compatible
Large and Growing Domestic Market
The domestic market of Sindh has some promising indicators for investors:
- Around 40 million consumers with increasing incomes
- An emerging middle-class with growing consumption habit
Well-Established Infrastructure and Legal System
The infrastructure and legal system in the province are in place for the investors:
- Well-established and business-friendly infrastructure and legal system
- Sophisticated telecommunications and IT infrastructure
- Comprehensive road and rail network