Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has invited Chinese companies to invest in the province’s water, agriculture and infrastructure sectors, seeking cooperation on the construction of a 100-kilometre K-IV pipeline for Karachi, the rehabilitation of Sukkur Barrage and the development of climate-resilient crop varieties.
During a visit to HBSZ Company in Wuhan’s Hanyang district, the chief minister discussed the K-IV pipeline project and inspected gates being manufactured for the rehabilitation and modernisation of Sukkur Barrage. Officials said HBSZ had expressed willingness to undertake construction of the 100km pipeline, while Mr Shah directed that work on the project be initiated at the earliest.
The chief minister was briefed on progress under the Sukkur Barrage Improvement Project, being implemented by a joint venture of China Road and Bridge Corporation and HBSZ. Of the barrage’s 54 river gates, 44 and their operating systems have been replaced and made functional, while civil repair work at the sites has also been completed. The remaining 10 gates have been prepared and will soon be transported from China to Pakistan.
Each of the large gates weighs more than 50 tonnes, officials said.
HBSZ is also fabricating 110 canal gates for Sukkur Barrage. During the 2026 closure period, civil works and repairs to the internal components of 27 canal gates were completed, while six gauge wells were constructed and handed over to the relevant authorities.
Dredging and excavation work has been completed in all areas except the tail channel, where work will be carried out during the next working season. The gate fabrication workshop building has also been completed.
“Sukkur Barrage is extremely important to me. It is the economic lifeline of Sindh,” Mr Shah said, adding that its formal rehabilitation after 90 years had significantly improved water flows.
Launched on Feb 24, 2023, the Sukkur Barrage project is scheduled for completion by June 30, 2027. It is being financed by the World Bank, the federal government and the Sindh government. Rehabilitation work at Guddu Barrage is also under way as part of the Sindh Barrages Improvement Project.
Qingfa Hesheng Agriculture
The chief minister also held a meeting with Qingfa Hesheng Agriculture Development Co. Ltd, a Wuhan-based high-tech seed company, and invited it to expand cooperation with Sindh in developing high-yield and climate-resilient crop varieties, strengthening local seed production and transferring modern agricultural technology.
During the meeting with the company’s Chairman Wang Shicai and senior representatives, Mr Shah discussed joint research, technology transfer, farmer training and the development of modern seed-production systems suited to Sindh’s agricultural conditions.
He said Sindh had significant potential to increase agricultural productivity through improved seed varieties, modern technology and scientific farming practices. He proposed cooperation in developing crops adapted to the province’s challenges, including extreme heat, water shortages, floods and changing weather patterns.
The company briefed the chief minister on its expertise in the research, production and international trade of hybrid crop and vegetable seeds, including rice, rapeseed, maize, cotton, watermelon, radish, pepper and pak-choi. Its hybrid rice varieties have reportedly achieved yield increases of between 20 and 30 per cent in relevant trials.
Qingfa Hesheng, an ISO9001-certified high-tech seed company, has research cooperation with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and operates seed-testing laboratories and demonstration farms.
Mr Shah proposed establishing joint research facilities in Sindh to develop and test seed varieties before their wider multiplication and distribution among farmers. He also stressed the importance of developing local seed multiplication and production through public-private partnerships to reduce dependence on imported varieties.
The meeting also covered the company’s work in Pakistan, including local research and development of crop varieties. Qingfa Hesheng has collaborated with Pakistani partners, including Certus Seeds, and signed agreements with the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council for the introduction of molecular seed-identification technology aimed at tackling counterfeit seeds and protecting intellectual property.
The chief minister said such technology could improve the quality and traceability of seeds available to farmers in Sindh. He invited the company to work with provincial agriculture institutions, research organisations and private-sector partners on seed testing, farmer training, technology transfer and applied agricultural research.
He said cooperation could also be extended to high-value agriculture, agro-processing and export-oriented production, creating new opportunities for farmers in domestic and international markets while promoting sustainability and climate resilience.
During the visit, Mr Shah also met Pakistani agricultural scientist Dr Ahmad Ali, who holds a PhD in seed development and is currently working with Qingfa Hesheng. The chief minister honoured him with a Sindhi cap and appreciated his achievement in working with an internationally recognised company.
The chief minister was accompanied by provincial ministers Sharjeel Memon and Jam Khan Shoro, Special Assistant to the CM Syed Qasim Naveed, PSC Agha Wasif, Planning and Development Chairman Najam Shah, Investment Secretary Raja Khuram Shahzad, Transport Secretary Asad Zamin and Agriculture Secretary Zaman Narejo.