Ambassador of South Korea Choong Joo Choi met Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif here on Friday and discussed matters of mutual interest as well as co-operation in transport, mining, hydle power and other sectors.
Member National Assembly Pervaiz Malik, Chairman Lahore Transport Company Khawaja Ahmad Hasaan and Secretary Transport were also present on the occasion.
Chief Minister said that Pakistan has cordial relations with South Korea, which has made remarkable progress in various sectors. There are vast opportunities of co-operation in different sectors in Punjab and provincial government has created a favourable environment for promotion of investment and all facilities are being provided to investors under one roof, he added.
He said he visited South Korea during his last tenure and introduced a well-organised transport system for the first time in Pakistan in the form of Daewoo Bus Service. An air-conditioned CNG bus service has recently been launched in Lahore with the co-operation of Chinese company Foton to provide affordable, comfortable and efficient transport service to the people.
He said in the next phase, similar transport facilities would be extended in Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi and other big cities of the province. An agreement has been signed between the leading companies of Istanbul and Solid Waste Management for the disposal of solid waste from provincial metropolis. Negotiations are also being held with different Korean companies for co-operation in various sectors including Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT) and Mono Rail project.
He said Korea has expertise in transport, hydel power, mining and other sectors and it can also extend co-operation in BRT and monorail sectors in Punjab. He said Daewoo is playing a commendable role in providing transport facilities to the people and like other investors Daewoo bus service will continue to be provided maximum facilities.
He thanked Korean Ambassador for taking keen interest in co-operation in various sectors and said that heads of various departments of Punjab government will send proposals to Korean Embassy in the light of which further steps will be taken for co-operation.
South Korean Ambassador Choong Joo Choi appreciated the measures taken by the Chief Minister Punjab for the development of transport and other sectors and said that Korea will increase co-operation in BRT, mining, hydle power and other sectors. He also invited Shahbaz to visit Korea.