Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that there is a wide scope of co-operation between Pakistan and China in various sectors and the economic future of Pakistan depends upon close trade and industrial relations with China. He said that the rapid progress made by China had given it a high status in the comity of nations.
He stressed the need of taking China as a role model and working with commitment and dedication for expeditious development of the country. He issued instructions for converting Punjab-China Bureau to Pak-China Company for co-operation between Punjab and China in different sectors as well as encouragement of Chinese investors. This was stated by him during a briefing meeting regarding Punjab-China Bureau set up for co-operation between Punjab and China in different sectors, here Tuesday.
Chief Secretary Punjab, Chairman Planning and Development, Deputy Chairman Investment Board, Secretaries of Finance, Housing, Irrigation and Livestock departments as well as Director General LDA were also present. Zafar-ud-Din Mehmood gave a detailed briefing regarding aims and objectives of the establishment of Punjab China Bureau and the prospects of co-operation between Punjab and China in different sectors.
The chief minister said that foreign investment was of vital importance for rapid development of the province as well as improvement of economic condition of the masses. Therefore, he said, Punjab government was extending all out encouragement to foreign investors. He said that they should fully benefit from the experience and expertise of China for the improvement of different sectors as well as optimum utilisation of natural resources.
He said that China was making progress in every sector due to the commitment and determination of Chinese people but unfortunately despite a lapse of 62 years they had not been able to put the country on the road to progress in the real sense and delay in the execution of development projects had become a common practice due to which loss of billions of rupees had to be faced.
He said that the element of delay in the implementation of development projects would have to be eliminated in the interest of development of the country as well as provision of better facilities to the masses. He said that there was a need for setting up a separate department comprising experts in different fields who could do away with the traditional bureaucratic red-tapeism and provide all out facilities and guidance to foreign entrepreneurs for investment in different sectors. He also issued instructions for setting up a special committee to be headed by Chief Secretary Punjab. He also directed that Punjab-China Bureau should be converted into Pak- China Company for co-operation between Punjab and China in different sectors. He said that steps were being taken for giving a practical shape to the agreements of co-operation signed during his visit to China.
Provincial Secretaries informed the meeting about the details regarding implementation of the agreements reached between Punjab and China in different sectors. They informed that a nine- member Chinese delegation would soon visit Punjab for co-operation in livestock sector while negotiations were being held with Chinese companies for co-operation in solid waste management and irrigation sectors.