President Asif Ali Zardari, during a visit to Shanghai Electric’s headquarters, has extended a formal invitation for the company to expand its investment in modernizing Pakistan’s power infrastructure. In the meeting with Chairman Wu Lei, the President emphasized that Pakistan remains committed to resolving any outstanding issues amicably and fostering a business environment conducive to long‑term collaboration.
President Zardari praised Shanghai Electric’s contributions to Pakistan’s energy sector—highlighting its role in projects spanning Thar coal, nuclear energy, and coal‑fired power generation. He reiterated that stabilizing the transmission and distribution network is a national priority, urging the company to explore new opportunities in grid modernization, clean energy integration, and local manufacturing. The meeting also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for a coal gasification and fertilizer project in Thar, Sindh—an initiative expected to support both energy self‑sufficiency and agricultural‑sector development.
The President highlighted Pakistan’s readiness to ensure regulatory clarity, secure environments for foreign personnel, and necessary policy support to facilitate investment. He expressed gratitude for the security arrangements already in place for Chinese workers and indicated that further measures would be taken to reinforce safety and trust. Chairman Wu Lei emphasized Shanghai Electric’s interest in continuing its long‑standing ties with Pakistan, noting that despite recent deal cancellations, the company values cooperation and seeks predictability in investment terms.
This renewed message comes on the heels of Shanghai Electric’s earlier decision to withdraw from a proposed acquisition of a major electricity distributor, citing challenges related to regulatory approval and market dynamics. The President’s overtures aim to address those concerns, signaling a fresh chapter of dialogue and partnership in Pakistan’s energy transformation.
