Punjab government and China State Construction and Engineering Company (CSCEC) have decided to cooperate in Lahore Ring Road and Rawalpindi Expressway projects and a team of Chinese company will visit Lahore on October 15 to settle details in this regard. The company will also complete its ongoing project of Software Park at Ferozpur Raod within timeframe.
This was decided in a meeting between Chief Minister Punjab, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and a delegation of China State Construction and Engineering Company led by its vice president and representative in Pakistan, Ye Wenquan at Chief Minister's Secretariat, here on Sunday. Addl. Chief Secretary, Secretaries Finance, Information Technology, Communication and Works, Commissioner Lahore Division and Vice Chairman Investment Board were also present on the occasion.
The Chief Minister said that Pakistan and China were bound together in strong ties of friendship and China had played a commendable role in the progress and development of Pakistan. He said that there was a wide scope of foreign investment and co-operation in various sectors in Punjab and China was already extending full co-operation in this regard. He said that Punjab government was implementing a comprehensive programme for the rapid development of the province and uplift of the masses and special attention was being paid to infrastructure development.
He said that Lahore Ring Road and Rawalpindi Expressway were important projects in the development of the province and keeping in view this fact, he had signed an agreement with the Chinese company during his visit to China. He said that this project was now being given a practical shape. He said that implementation of these projects would not only result in better communication facilities to the masses but would also leave a positive impact on the provincial economy.
He said that the company should complete its ongoing project of Software Park at Ferozpur Road as early as possible, as the project had already been delayed due to inept planning and strategy of the former rulers due to which the present government had to bear an additional expenditure of Rs one billion. He said that a special committee headed by Addl. Chief Secretary had also been constituted, which would take immediate measures for removing all hurdles in the way of early completion of the project. He said that the company should also extend co-operation for converting Software Park into information Technology Park.