Seminar on business opportunities begins

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif rolled out a red carpet for international investors gathering in a two-day seminar in a hotel in Lahore on Friday, saying "My investor is my master." His comment was part of a speech he made in an inaugural session of the seminar on business opportunities in the Punjab which also drew in business delegates from China, Turkey and the United States.
The chief minister extended a solid commitment of acting as a catalyst to the corporate business in the Punjab. "There will be no kickbacks and a comprehensive oversight of projects will be in place to make sure transparency," he pledged. "There will be no delays in honouring commitments and assistance on the projects throughout the province. It is not you and me, but it is us. It is a trust-building exercise with our friends and I assure you of a friendlier environment fully cost effective to enable foreign investors to share their knowledge with local partners. We will assure profits for you."
He also urged local entrepreneurs to discuss joint ventures and enter into agreements with their counterparts attending the event. "I assure you of full co-operation on behalf of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Punjab government. The Punjab government functionaries have made untiring efforts to make this event a success."
He then promised his audience with better security. He told his audience, "Some speakers have also endorsed this view that the security situation has comparatively improved in Pakistan. We are working day and night to secure Pakistan and provide security to investors coming from the brotherly counties. You must walk around and see the improvement. The government has not achieved it all overnight."
He said Koreans were copying the investment plans of Pakistan back in the Sixties. "Another historical fact is that exports of Turkey and Pakistan were almost at the same level in the 1980s. It establishes the fact that Pakistan's economy was robust during the 1960s, 70s and 80s, and our political and bureaucratic combination was working together to promote the economy. Then a terrible thing happened in the shape of the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan had no option but to become the first line state in the war on terrorism. The friends of Pakistan have helped in this war, which lead to fetching money and weapons to Pakistan and the rest is history."
He went on, "We are facing terrorism today, that is a live threat and menacing; it is a must to move forward. Both the political leadership and the people of Pakistan are on one page in this war. We have rendered 65,000 sacrifices, which is enough to prove our commitment to beating this enemy for all the time to come. Humongous challenges and great opportunities are lying ahead for Pakistan and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is committed to providing prosperity to the people of Pakistan.
"The economic indicators have improved over the past two and a half years. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor worth $46 billion has been signed and a good number of power and infrastructure projects are underway. Installing transmission lines is also part of this greater plan."
He went on to say his government had launched a gas-based power project recently to produce 3,000 megawatts through the country's own resources and there was "a cut-throat competition" for the project and renowned companies of the world class participated to the tender process. "Speed is the name of the game," he remarked. "All these projects have been won by the General Electric from the United States [a multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in New York], combined with Corridor project contractors from China. The General Electric is coming in a big way to Pakistan and once the power projects are completed, a mad race in all sectors of the economy will be starting to generate jobs."
But he did admit that the paucity of power had hit the economy and his government was handling it as a major challenge. "We are making an untiring effort to bring in millions of megawatts and provide electricity to all corners of Pakistan to regain its economic position in the world."
Part of his speech then focussed on local businessmen, claiming that this august the assembly of international business community was not here for a pleasure trip, but they were the busiest business houses of the world, having seriousness intention to invest here. He also urged them and the media to cash in on this moment to turn Pakistan into a prosperous country.