Talking to The Express Tribune, SBI Director General, Mohammad Younus Dhaga, said SBI was successful in bringing thousands of local and international investors under one roof, which is very encouraging for the Sindh Government.

Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, while inaugurating the two-day exhibition at the Karachi Expo Centre, said that the government wants to encourage investment in livestock, poultry, fisheries and other similar sectors to fully utilise the growth potential of the province.

He said that Sindh has a big agricultural sector and besides food items, it is famous for prominent breeds of cattle and dairy farming. The province also has a long coastal belt.

Minister added that the livestock sector attracted attention of many local investors who want to diversify their investments. “We wanted to bring local investors on a platform where they could discuss the opportunities in various sectors.

SBI gives immense importance to local investors who have all the required capabilities to diversify their investments and set up new business ventures,” he said.

Muhammad Bilal, a businessman from the oil and gas sector in Islamabad, was surprised by the enormous opportunities Sindh offers in the livestock sector. “I want to invest here because of the huge population and high demand of dairy products,” he said.

He also believed that “the economy will bounce back in coming years,” and urged investors to invest in Pakistan.

Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) President Saeed Shafiq, who partnered with SBI in the two-day expo, said that KCCI wants to encourage self-employment in the country to help control increasing unemployment.

KCCI has recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SBI, according to which KCCI will support SBI in highlighting the investment potential in Sindh. Mr Shafiq explained that KCCI wants to support SBI in creating new investment opportunities, especially self-employment with small investments so that unemployed fresh graduates are able to start their own businesses.

“Pakistan is currently going through difficult economic times which demand strong planning from the private sector to contain unemployment, particularly among youth. We have chalked out a plan to address the growing unemployment in the country,” he said.