⚡ Qatar’s Al-Thani Group Exits Pakistan’s Port Qasim Power Project Over Unpaid Dues

Islamabad / Doha: In a major blow to Pakistan’s investment credibility, Qatar’s Al-Thani Group, linked to the country’s royal family, has decided to withdraw from the USD 2.1 billion Port Qasim Power Project in Karachi — a key component of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) — over long-pending payment arrears and financial instability, Business Recorder reported. The Al-Thani family, through Al-Mirqab Capital, held a 49% stake in the coal-fired plant, jointly developed with China’s Power Construction Corporation. Despite repeated requests, Pakistan’s government reportedly failed to clear dues of about PKR 400 billion owed by the Central Power Purchasing Agency Guaranteed (CPPAG). Sources said the Qatari investors had personally approached Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif seeking repayment, but no action followed. The move adds to a growing list of foreign firms — at least nine in recent years — that have exited Pakistan due to payment delays, policy uncertainty, and macroeconomic distress. Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves, at USD 14.5 billion in October 2025, cover barely three months of imports. The country remains heavily dependent on IMF bailouts, external loans, and remittances, with investor confidence eroding amid political turmoil and chronic fiscal mismanagement. The exit of a high-profile Gulf investor like Al-Thani is seen as a major setback for CPEC and a signal of waning foreign trust in Pakistan’s economic stability. Analysts warn that losing Qatar’s royal investment arm — which manages over USD 335 billion in global assets — could deter other Middle Eastern investors from engaging in future projects. #CPEC #PakistanEconomy #QatarInvestment #AlThaniGroup #PortQasim #EnergySector #ForeignInvestment #EconomicCrisis #PakistanNews #IMF #GlobalFinance #InvestorConfidence #Doha #Karachi #ChinaPakistanRelations