According to a message received from DGPR, Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the agreement for Taunsa Power Project with the Chinese company, which built the biggest dam of the world, will prove to be a new chapter of foreign investment in Pakistan.
He was addressing a meeting after a detailed visit to Three Gorges Dam, which is the world's largest hydel-power project in the Chinese province of Hubei during the day. While recording his impressions in the visitors' book, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif termed the Tree Gorges Dam as a "gorgeous one" in reality and a tribute to the unshakeable commitment, indefatigable efforts and indomitable spirit of the Chinese people. He described the dam as the eighth wonder of the world.
Referring to Taunsa Power Project, the Chief Minister said that the project would prove to be a memorable gift for the people of Punjab by the government and people of China and a glaring example of Pak-China friendship. He said that Taunsa Power Project would help reduce loadshedding, transfer of hydel-power technology to Pakistani experts, resumption of industrial activities and generation of job opportunities. He said that Pakistan wanted to benefit from Chinese expertise at Taunsa Barrage and other projects. He said that he would be happy to be host of Chinese engineers and workers.
Later, leaders of Chinese Communist Party hosted a reception in honour of Chief Minister Punjab and his delegation in Ye Chang, which is the central city of Hubei province. Speaking on the occasion, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that people of China are the custodians of the ancient wisdom of China, spanning over thousands of years, while the Communist Party had played a historic role in utilising their capabilities. He said that he and his delegation had come with a programme of co-operation with China in agriculture, livestock, road construction, hydel-power, communication and other sectors and were happy that the leadership of the Communist Party was extending all out encouragement and patronage.
Local leader of Chinese Communist Party Li Ya Long in his address said that visit of the delegation led by Chief Minister of Punjab would play an important role in cementing friendly relations between the two countries and mutual contacts would be made more effective and result-oriented in science, technology, culture and other sectors.
He also assured fullest co-operation of the Communist Party in the development of infrastructure, agriculture, culture, livestock, communication and other sectors. The Chinese leader described the power generation project at Taunsa Barrage as a glorious example of Pak-China friendship. He appreciated the efforts of Chief Minister Punjab for the provision of low-cost energy and overcoming power shortage and assured that China would continue to support Punjab in such welfare-oriented projects in future as well.