LAHORE: - Chinese investors have evinced keen interest to build a mega construction and building shopping mall to revamp the construction sector of Pakistan in line with modern construction practices employed in developed world.
The interest was expressed by a seven-member delegation of the Chinese investors, representing Shandong SKL International trade limited led by Shanfeng Xu, in a meeting with Pak China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) on Thursday. PCJCCI President Wang Zihai delivered welcome address to the delegation. Whereas, Senior Vice President Ahmad Faheem Khan and a number of the PCJCCI Executive Committee members were also present on the occasion.
The purpose of this primary visit was to select the site for this mega project equipped with all ultra-modern construction and building development equipment and technology. The delegation was of the view that construction style in Pakistan is conventional and energy inefficient. The delegates expressed that their highly energy efficient construction technology and style could save construction and energy cost in Pakistan by up to ten times. The delegates said they were utilising solar and geothermal energy in building structures which maintained comfortable temperatures, both in summer and winter seasons.
The PCJCCI president briefed the delegates about investment opportunities in Pakistan regarding this particular sector. He said construction is a booming sector in Pakistan as many big residential, industrial and commercial construction projects are underway in major cities of the country. He said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has started a new era of construction of mega projects in Pakistan and it is high time that more Chinese investors should explore Pakistan for investment and joint ventures.
While speaking on the occasion, Faheem highly appreciated the idea of establishing model construction shopping mall by the Chinese investors. He said that Housing and Construction Sector had been identified by the government of Pakistan as the driver of economic growth that is quite encouraging for foreign investors. He said that such a mall will bring all modern equipment under one roof. This sector has a gigantic impact on economy as millions of jobs can be generated during the chain reaction process of construction activity in the economy that have snowball effects in allied industries such as cement, iron, steel, timber and wood, marbles, tiles and stones, electrical and sanitary works, glass, paints and varnishes, electrical lightning, power and gas, horticulture, interior decoration, transport, light-heavy construction machinery, plastics, fibers, furniture, electrical appliances, and many more, he added.
Head of the visiting delegation Shanfeng stated that China is keen to develop infrastructure facilities in Pakistan and the development of infrastructure is all related with the construction industry. He said that in order to nurture this industry, China has planned to inculcate modern trends of construction and housing among the common masses. He said that with the involvement of general public the trends and standards of modern construction will start to flourish and radiate in other segments of the society.