Karachi, October 30,2026: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Portuguese Ambassador to Pakistan Paulo Domingues have agreed to explore new avenues of bilateral cooperation in water management, energy, sports and investment, with particular focus on establishing desalination plants in Karachi and promoting football among Lyari’s youth.
The understanding was reached during a meeting between the chief minister and the Portuguese ambassador, attended by Portugal’s Political Officer David Arco, Honorary Consul of Portugal in Karachi Amin Faqir, and Secretary to the Chief Minister Asif Jameel.
During the meeting, both sides discussed facilitating cooperation between Portuguese companies and the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) to explore the establishment of desalination plants in Karachi.
Murad Ali Shah said the Sindh government was actively pursuing desalination projects to meet the city’s growing water requirements. He said Portuguese companies, in collaboration with KWSC, would examine the feasibility and technical aspects of setting up desalination facilities.
He noted that Portugal’s advanced technology and technical expertise could help introduce sustainable solutions to improve Karachi’s water supply.
The chief minister also directed the Sindh Investment Department to coordinate with the Portuguese Embassy to identify potential investment opportunities in the energy sector. Both sides discussed prospects for Portuguese investment, technological advancement and technical cooperation in energy-related projects.
Sports cooperation, particularly football development in Lyari, was another key subject of the discussions. The two sides explored opportunities to draw on Portugal’s footballing experience by providing young players from Lyari with modern training and exposure to international standards.
Murad Ali Shah stressed the need to promote football in Lyari and create opportunities for young players to develop their talent. He said the provincial government was keen to benefit from international expertise and modern technology to address Karachi’s water and energy challenges while investing in the potential of its youth.
Ambassador Paulo Domingues expressed Portugal’s interest in expanding cooperation and investment in Sindh across various sectors. Both sides agreed to maintain closer coordination to translate the identified opportunities in water resources, energy and sports into practical initiatives.
The Portuguese ambassador also invited the chief minister to attend an upcoming Portugal Investment Conference in Islamabad. Murad Ali Shah accepted the invitation and assured him that a Sindh government delegation would actively participate in the event.
The meeting reflected the shared commitment of Sindh and Portugal to strengthen bilateral relations through practical cooperation, technology transfer and mutually beneficial investment opportunities.
