Karachi: At the 19th My Karachi – Oasis of Harmony Exhibition, Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah emphasized the province's capability to produce electricity at significantly lower costs by utilizing local coal and gas resources.

According to Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, during his speech at the Expo Center on Friday, Chief Minister Shah highlighted the economic disparity in energy costs, noting that electricity from the Nooriabad power plant is produced at Rs15.80 per unit but sold to Karachi industries at rates between Rs48 to Rs52 per unit. He advocated for the development of additional power plants in Sindh to offer electricity at prices at least 50% below the current tariffs within three to five years.

The event was attended by numerous dignitaries including Ministers for Information, Transport, Excise and Taxation Sharjeel Inam Memon, Industries and Commerce Ikramullah Khan Dharejo, Irrigation Jam Khan Shoro, Senator Waqar Mehdi, and various business leaders. The Chief Minister pointed out the constitutional provision that gives Sindh first right to its natural resources, including gas, which is not being honored, leading to forced usage of more expensive RLNG and contributing to industrial closures and unemployment.

Chief Minister Shah further outlined the Sindh government's commitment to spending over Rs200 billion on infrastructure projects in Karachi for the 2024-25 period, and mentioned ongoing efforts to address water shortages and crime, enhancing the city’s economic output. He underscored Karachi's critical role in the economic well-being of both the province and Pakistan as a whole.

The exhibition, praised for fostering business connections and showcasing the region's manufacturing prowess, also served as a platform for acknowledging the contributions of the late Siraj Teli in promoting Karachi’s business community.