Punjab and Iran signed eight agreements regarding co-operation in transport, technical education, establishment of modern slaughter house in Lahore, science, establishment of floriculture and flower plant centre, recreational park, solid waste management and beautification of cities.
The agreements were signed in a meeting between Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and the visiting delegation of Mashhad Metropolitan Corporation led by Mayor of Mashhad Syed Muhammad Ramzan here on Thursday. Speaking on the occasion, Shahbaz Sharif said that Pak-Iran relations are higher than Himalayas and deeper than oceans and Iran has stood by Pakistan in every hour of need.
There is a need to transform this relationship into economic and trade co-operation as mutual co-operation between Pakistan and Iran is of vital importance for the progress and prosperity of the region. He said that agreements between Iran and Punjab will be given a practical shape on fast track basis.
Consul General of Iran Saeed Kharazi, Provincial Minister for Local Government Sardar Dost Muhammad Khan Khosa, Chairman Taskforce Khawaja Ahmed Hasaan, Vice Chairman Punjab Investment Board, Secretaries of Local Government, Livestock, Commerce and Information departments, Commissioner Lahore Division and other officers concerned were also present.
The Chief Minister said that signing of agreements between Punjab and Mashhad for co-operation in different sectors is a welcome step and these agreements will be given a practical shape as soon as possible. Working groups comprising representatives of both the countries have been set up to implement the agreements signed during his recent visit to Iran.
He said that the agreement with Iran for setting up a slaughter house in Lahore is a welcome step and both the sides will ensure early completion of the project. The first cargo plane could fly to Iran with high quality meat in December 2010, he added. He said the government is setting up a state-of-the-art Expo Centre in Lahore with the co-operation of the federal government. The Expo Centre is in the final stages of completion and will soon be inaugurated. It is his desire that joint Pak-Iran exhibitions should be arranged at the Expo Centre. He said Punjab government is also working on the Metro project in Lahore and it will try to complete the project as soon as possible.
Mayor of Mashhad Syed Muhammad Pazman, while speaking on the occasion, said that Pakistan and Iran have deep rooted and cordial relations and the people of both the countries have common feelings and sentiments. He expressed the hope that his visit will strengthen the bilateral relations.
He hoped that the slaughter house project in Lahore will be completed in stipulated time as desired by the Chief Minister. He said that Expo Centres of Mashhad and Lahore should hold joint exhibitions. He said that Mashhad Expo Centre has singed agreements for co-operation with various countries and it can help promote contacts of industrialists and investors from Punjab with these countries for further increasing exports to these countries.