Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has invited Portuguese companies to partner with the Sindh government in addressing Karachi's growing water requirements through modern desalination technology. In a meeting with Portugal's Ambassador to Pakistan, Paulo Domingues, at CM House on 30 October, he proposed linking Portuguese companies with the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation to jointly examine the technical and commercial feasibility of establishing desalination plants in Karachi.

Welcoming the ambassador, Shah said the government is actively exploring sustainable solutions to meet Karachi's increasing water demand, and that desalination is an important option being considered. He also discussed opportunities for Portuguese investment in Sindh's energy sector, particularly through modern technology, technical cooperation and commercial partnership, and directed the Investment Department to establish contact with the Portuguese Embassy and explore potential areas of investment.

Football and the Lyari connection

The meeting also covered sports cooperation. Shah highlighted Lyari's rich footballing culture and said the area has considerable talent among its young footballers. Both sides agreed to explore practical arrangements for training programmes, coaching exchanges and exposure opportunities for promising young footballers from Lyari, alongside the water and energy discussions.

Ambassador Domingues invited the chief minister to participate in the forthcoming Portugal Investment Conference, and Portugal's Political Officer David Arcaú, Honorary Consul of Portugal in Karachi Amin Fakar, and Secretary to the CM Asif Jameel attended the meeting. Desalination is not a quick fix: feasibility, financing and construction all take time, and Karachi's water problem is as much about distribution and losses as about new supply. But the meeting puts a concrete proposal, and a named partner utility, behind an option the province has discussed for years.