Ambassador of European Union in Pakistan Jean Francois Cautain met Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, here on Friday and discussed promotion of bilateral relations and implementation of the points of GSP Plus. The Chief Minister said there are strong friendly ties between Pakistan and European Union. Pakistan gives high importance to the cooperation of European Union for the development of education, health infrastructure besides other social sectors in the country.
He said after GSP Plus status Pakistan's textile industry had got access to European markets and the trade was increasing. GSP Plus points are being effectively implemented in Punjab and a special cabinet committee has been set up for getting maximum benefit from GSP Plus status.
Ambassador Jean Francois Cautain said the Punjab government has taken exemplary measures for the implementation of GSP Plus status and taken steps expeditiously for implementing GSP Plus conventions in the province. He also lauded setting up of Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory and described it a splendid project with regard to criminal justice system. He said the European Union wants to promote cooperation with Pakistan. He also presented a report to the CM regarding progress on GSP Plus. Provincial Minister for Human Rights Khalil Tahir Sandhu, Secretary Industry, Secretary Labour and concerned officials were also present on the occasion.
Explaining the development policy and programme of his government, the Chief Minister said that a revolutionary program was being implemented for the empowerment of youth and women in Punjab with positive results, Referring to the measures taken by the provincial government for the elimination of child labour, the CM said the `Punjab government has taken effective steps for curbing child labor and he was personally monitoring the performance of the steering committee set up for this purpose.
He said a splendid educational package has been given for the education of the children working at brick kilns and not only a monthly stipend is being given to these children but the government will also bear their educational expenses. Commenting on the international report of the Transparency International issued from Berlin regarding control of corruption, Shahbaz Sharif said this report has authenticated the transparent policies of the present government and improvement in the rating of Pakistan with regard to efforts for curbing corruption is encouraging.
He said Pakistan is the only country of the region whose international rating has improved with regard to the measures for eliminating corruption, no scandal of the present government led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has surfaced which is a big credit.
Referring to the steps taken for overcoming energy crisis and terrorism, the CM said Pakistan is facing the challenge of terrorism and extremism as well as shortage of electricity. The government is taking effective measures for rooting out terrorism and resolving energy problem. The ruthless elements that targeted the future of the nation at Bacha Khan University, Charsadda deserve no leniency and the whole nation is united to eliminate the menace of terrorism. 180 million people of Pakistan are fully determined to defeat the enemies of peace, the dream of national progress and prosperity cannot be realised without curbing the scourge of terrorism, he asserted.
The CM said in order to check the trend of extremism, revolutionary measures are also been taken on ideological front, topics of tolerance, peace and brotherhood have been made a part of syllabus He said besides traditional methods, the government is also striving for generation of energy from renewable resources; sincere efforts have been made during the last two and a half years for coping with energy crisis and a number of projects would be producing electricity by the end of 2017 which will substantially reduce loadshedding.