Addressing a reception in his honour in London, Sharif urged expatriates to invest in their country and benefit from the incentives and facilities being offered by the Punjab government, said an official handout on Sunday.
He said that the Punjab government had created an atmosphere conducive for investment and all-out facilities were being extended to investors on a priority basis.
According to him, the provincial government has taken steps for the improvement of law and order and for the protection of life and property of investors due to which the region was emerging as a hub for safe foreign investment.
The chief minister stated that a number of projects of public welfare were under development with the cooperation of Turkey, Iran and other countries. He asked UK based Pakistanis to help in progress and prosperity of Punjab through investment, collaboration and public-private partnership in different sectors.
Sharif said that power generation was on top of the agenda of the Punjab government and during his recent visit to Turkey, Britain and Germany, he sought expertise of these countries.
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly referred to Shahbaz Sharif as "former chief minister". The error has been corrected.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 8th, 2012.
COMMENTS (24)
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CM, dont know what he is saying,
Thousand of Pakistan, living aboard, brought millions of $ in Pakistan for investemnt, always fail in success of any business, every body, including, Goverment people, Estate Agents, bank people, Stock exchange dealers, etc, always cheated them in many ways.
Never any Government support, How and Why people invest in Pakistan?
@Maria - where are you getting your data from. especially the ones like that most UK muslims are living on state welfare money !!!! I like your optimism on in 5 yrs Punjab would be in line with east asian giants , were you travelling in a vehicle with tinted glasses?
Not sure, if Mian Sahab know that expats have started paying dole to Pakistan again, $150 million per month in the form of 800% increase in PTA Charges ( International Clearing House)...I am better off investing India, where their policies are consistent, unlike our motherland...where crooks update policies to loot more money from people...
@Caramelized_Onion: If you must know, not only Jang but all of the Punjab has benefitted under the administration of Shahbaz Sharif. I travelled to many cities in Punjab from Lahore to Rawalipindi to Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad and Multan- all of them have developed and prospered. That is why Punjab remains the most stable and developed province in Pakistan despite getting no support from the Federal government in Islamabad. If you don't believe me, go to the Punjab and see yourself - compare it with any province in Pakistan and ask people to comment on the development in every sphere of the province's administration. If anything, if Shahbaz Sharif stays for another 5 years, Punjab will be at the level of the East Asian economies in terms of development. I agree that most UK Muslims, including Pakistanis live on welfare which is state khayrat because they don't work but there are a small number who can invest back home.
Why should i Invest in Pakistan where the currency is degrading daily, where main stream parties are reluctant to do anything about corruption , where you cannot get anything done with out offering chaa paani, where majority or population don't even know ABCD, where there is no sign of law and order and everything one thinks they are above law, where Mullah are allowed to roam the streets and declaring fitawas on everyone, ? WHY PLEASE EXPLAIN.. first sort out the house then tell others to visit it get the hint...
Give them the right to stand for public office and vote, then they will invest.
There would be no need to ask expats to invest if the investments available were transparent and corruption free! How many of us know of people who lost their money in that country due to plots being sold many times over or a corrupt judiciary...etc.
Investors are not stupid, clean up the top to bottom corruption and the investors will follow!
Shahbaz uncle have you investedall ur money in Pak ?
@curious: Oh Ya? Guess who send a $Billion a month in Free Foreign Exchange to Pakistan without any Hardwork on Your Part, for the heavy loans & imports you guys are getting. If it weren't for that money PAK economy whatever it is now, would not last for more than FEW MONTHS. Only if CM had asked for HELP earlier and showed real hard work all over Punjab, not just Lahore, reality on the ground would have been different today. Most ex-pats are from Rural Areas who send this kind of money from overseas. City people just have too much to spend on!
Even the son of your party leader chooses to invest his laundered money in England, and you expect others to invest in Pakistan.
Sharifs made billions and transferred out of Pakistan by unknown channels. But they want hardworking expats to invest in Pakistan! Action speaks louder than words, but i guess the word "shame" is not in their dictionary!
so called lead er, should set some examples himself first and people may trust them!
First provide security and then serve as an example and ask family to invest in Pakistan
As an expat, I urge Shahbaz Sharif to declare his and his family's true assets and bring them all back to pakistan (and while doing that please explain the source of funds that allowed you to buy those assets), then I will start trusting you with my money and invest in Pakistan.
But most overseas Pakistanis have no money, that is why they left the country. If you can kindly give some money they will contribute on your behalf.
@Caramelized_Onion:
Jhang is far away from Lahore, dear :-)
When PML (N) can't do anything within 50km radius of Lahore, how do you expect them to reach out to Jhang (a district situated almost 3.5 hrs drive from Lahore).
PML (N) thinks "Lahore is Punjab".
He is a sitting CM not a former CM.
He is a current chief Minister not former chief minister, please correct the same.
Talk talk talk, are you planing on actions or you have left that part for second generation of Sharif's?
Very much impressed you are asking those people whom you think they are traitors neither they have right to vote or or get elected.
Dear CM please force the govt/PTA to take back the decision of 500% increase in international calling rates. That's not good gesture towards expats.
I am sure hassan nawaz were also present in the conference ..
Has this guy come up with anything original in the last 5 years in power? eg. Jhang, it's part of Punjab isn't it? Punjab is not limited to Lahore. What have you done to improve the lives of people in Jhang in the last 5 years, and I'm not even asking about the last 25 years since you have been in power.