A protocol of projects co-operation between Punjab government and China's top entrepreneur was signed here on the second day of Punjab Chief Minister Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif visit to China on Tuesday.
The signing ceremony of Protocol was witnessed by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and China National Chemical Engineering Group (CNCEC) Chairman Jian Kening on areas of co-operation between the two sides in fertiliser, power generation, mining, infrastructure development and waste water management.
Earlier, the Punjab Chief Minister holding a meeting with the Chairman of China's top entrepreneur, the CNCEC, identified projects in power generation through coal and hydel, mining, infrastructure, extracting coal and raw iron for manufacturing iron with the co-operation of CNCEC and waste water management.
The Punjab Chief Minister on the occasion suggested formation of a committee from both sides instantly to prepare the contents of Protocol as he wanted implantation of these projects on fast track. The CNCEC Chairman agreeing to the Chief Minister's proposals said, "Pakistan is China's close friend and he will be delighted to form a committee and sign the protocol."
The Punjab Chief Minister said there was vast reserves of raw iron and coal in his province, and were very suitable for making iron and coal for generating electricity. He said he would welcome support from Chinese side to extract those reserves for the mutual benefit of the two sides.
He also offered co-operation in the field of Solid Waste Management, recycling of sewerage water for re-use, generation of power through use of coal. He also informed that "Pakistan is facing serious energy crisis, which is also a big set back for our industrial growth."
The Punjab Chief Minister said that President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on their part were making every effort to address this problem. In Punjab too, he said they had been facing power crisis, and to overcome it, the Punjab Chief Minister said they planned to set up power generating unit on Tunsa Barrage to generate 100 MW electricity. He also invited CNCEC for project co-operation in infrastructure development to lay a network of road, elevated expresses and motorways.
Shahbaz Sharif on the occasion also briefed Jin Kening how to generate funds for those projects. He said he was keen to invite Chinese side for those projects, because they had most modern technology with competitive cost. Earlier, the Chief Minister through help of slides briefed about the CNCEC world-wide participation in various projects.
The meeting was informed that CNCEC, one of the largest state enterprises, had already successfully completed 14 projects in Pakistan including setting up of two oil refineries.