Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt met Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif here on Thursday and discussed matters of mutual interest and cooperation in different sectors.
Ambassador of Sweden in Pakistan, Lars Hjalmar Wide, Special Envoy of Sweden for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Niclas Trouve, Honorary Consul General of Sweden in Lahore, Syed Haider Ali, Provincial Food Minister, Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor, Member National Assembly, Pervaiz Malik, Vice Chairman Punjab Investment Board and other concerned officers were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that Pakistan has great geographical, political and cultural importance in South Asia and has always played an active role for international peace and security. He also informed the Swedish FM of the reforms introduced by the government in education, health, information technology, energy, livestock, agriculture and other sectors.
He said that special importance has been given to the uplift of education and health sectors. He said that provincial government has ensured participation of every member of the society in the process of collective development while welfare of minorities is also being attached special importance.
He said that provincial government has initiated a number of projects for the betterment and uplift of the deprived segments of the society, minorities, women and children including setting up of Punjab Educational Endowment Fund, Punjab IT Labs Project, Daanish School System, Aashiyana Housing Project and self-employment scheme.
He said that access of the children of the poor and marginalized segments to free educational facilities is being ensured without any discrimination so that every Pakistani could play his role in national development and progress. He said that process of provision of international standard transport facilities to the people has also been started. The CM further said that investment is being fully encouraged and Swedish entrepreneurs should take benefit of the investment opportunities available in the province.